Breaking News: Keir Starmer to Unveil Digital ID Plan
Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme in a speech on Friday, according to senior government sources. The prime minister believes the scheme will help crack down on illegal working and modernize the state.
The digital ID plan aims to replace physical documents with online checks, making it easier to verify people's right to live and work in the UK. This is a significant shift from previous attempts to introduce ID cards, which were blocked by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010.
The Labour party leader has been considering this move for some time, citing the increasing use of digital IDs in everyday life. "We all carry a lot more digital ID now than we did 20 years ago," Starmer said earlier this month.
A consultation on the practicalities of the scheme will be launched soon, which will also explore how to make it accessible to those without a smartphone or passport. The government plans to use the new scheme to check people's right to live and work in the UK, currently based on physical documents.
This is a developing story, with further details expected to emerge from Sir Keir Starmer's speech on Friday.
*This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*
