Why digital ID is the last thing we need and why it will not smash the gangs

See my Express article re ID cards

21 Comments

  1. Know-Dice
    September 26, 2025

    Agreed, it would be the slippy slope to more Government interference of personal freedom.

  2. John O'Sullivan
    September 26, 2025

    Regrettably it would not “open” for me

  3. Kenneth
    September 26, 2025

    We are already in an awful situation where, in everyday transactions, we have to “prove who we are” and where we are treated as guilty until proven innocent. Rather than deal with this sad state of affairs, the government wants to cave in to it by bringing in an ID card.

    Rather than increase this Big Brother tendancy, we should start reducing the need for it.

    All the government needs to do is lock up or deport the criminals. Once they are gone, the rest of us can be assumed innocent. The government will also need to severely curtail those coming into the country to the point that we know the people coming here have no criminal tendancies.

    I hope the British People refuse to co-operative with ID cards. What a terrrible Idea. What a terrible thought. What a lame admission of failure!

  4. Ian B
    September 26, 2025

    Sir John

    The Express item isn’t showing yet

    Sir Keir Starmer has admitted that Labour has previously got it wrong on migration.

    “Writing for The Telegraph ahead of a speech countering Reform UK, the Prime Minister acknowledged that, before his leadership, the party “did shy away” from voters’ concerns on illegal immigration.” (only before he became PM?)

    “He wrote: “There is no doubt that for years Left-wing parties, including my own, did shy away from people’s concerns around illegal immigration. It has been too easy for people to enter the country, work in the shadow economy and remain illegally.”
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/25/sir-keir-starmer-labour-got-it-wrong-on-migration/

    So, to address his own inadequacy his answer…
    “Sir Keir also unveiled plans for every adult to be issued with a digital ID card to combat illegal migration. The cards would become mandatory for work by the end of the decade.”

    Government issued photo ID’s, Passport’s, Driving Licences along with NI numbers are no longer good enough, they are not secure is the implication. He says these Digital ID’s will be ‘free’ but you have to pay for a mobile phone and its service. If you don’t have a mobile phone, don’t receive a good signal you will be denied your legitimate rights living in a ‘free democratic’ country.

    Refreshing our minds, M&S, the Coop, JLR all digital and suffering massive loses. Then there is Bank Fraud all as a result of being digital. Is this a weapon against Criminal Activity or to enhance criminal activity? The UK’s Legal Industry already drives a cart and horses through what passes for a legal system and the UK Courts. Criminals having UK taxpayer paid lawyers on board get to ensure their clients already receive free mobile phones and service paid by the taxpayer, something the UK taxpayer is not entitled too.

    I would suggest it is UK Laws that are the problem, the UK Legislators not being in charge of the Laws made in the UK, or used in the UK and the PM’s desire to ensure his old profession is well paid by the State seems to be the gaping hole in our structures. Why do we have Legislators, why do we pretend this UK is a Democracy?

    1. Ian B
      September 26, 2025

      We can expect total security from these card at the moment the powers that be see their best bet and most secure(cheap) to be https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/26/suspected-weak-link-in-jaguar-land-rover-ms-hacks/ – One of the Top companies for US H-1B visas approval, keeping the likes of M&S, the Coop, JLR all safe and secure.
      Still Tony Blair’s outfit, the instigators of the UK’s destruction is saying the proposals don’t go far enough!

  5. Peter Gardner
    September 26, 2025

    Splendid.
    The only people to whom the Government is obliged to issue with identity documents are asylum seekers. Article 27 of the UN Convention on Refugees requires the state entered to issue identity papers to any refugee in their territory who does not possess a valid travel document. The UK should issue an ID card linked to a database containing all relevant information on their personal status, entry, asylum application, rights to employment, healthcare, housing, benefits, criminal record, next of kin and their status, etc. The ID card may also serve as a travel document as required by Article 28.
    British citizens do not need them, the asylum seekers do. Either issue them in Britain or send them back to France to collect the ID issued by the French Government.

  6. Mick
    September 26, 2025

    Having digital ID isn’t going to reduce illegal immigration or people getting employed on the black market there’s still cash in hand which most of these black market employers I guess pay these illegals so the only people that will suffer is the indigenous population trying to top up there benefits or the OAP subsiding there pittance of a pension

  7. Harry MacMillon
    September 26, 2025

    This is all very obvious to people who can see between the lines – It’s not just government overreach, imposing digital ids is about this country becoming a dictatorship.

    Imposition of digital ids is another criminal act by HMG.

    It needs to be opposed in every possible way, otherwise we will be controlled on the streets and everywhere else – for a start: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730194?ref=ed_direct

    (Bryan Harris – For whatever reason I am unable to post with my name or actual email address. I assume I’ve upset our host, but would like to know how. I’m happy to see that he has moved towards positions I have been shouting about for so long and generally support him)

  8. MPC
    September 26, 2025

    It’s a simplistic diversionary tactic. Starmer must know the only way to stop the boats is physically at the Channel border, before the migrants get in and access the full panoply of human rights laws and financial entitlement. If he authorised that, assuming his parliamentary party allowed him to, he’d probably walk the next election. But no he’s a human rights lawyer first and an excruciatingly poor PM second.

  9. Lifelogic
    September 26, 2025

    Indeed. Kier launches this lunacy with another lie that they will be free. One thing for sure we will have to pay one way or another just as we paid for the facial Covid App. In taxes or fees and loss of liberty.

    1. Lifelogic
      September 26, 2025

      farcical Covid tracing app!

    2. Lifelogic
      September 27, 2025

      Plus the lie that it will stop illegal working. Does Two Tier really think people who employ illegal workers or who work illegally will just stop this due to the introduction of a digital ID app?

  10. Narrow Shoulders
    September 26, 2025

    Those governing us fail to comprehend that laws do not deter the lawless they merely inconvenience the law abiding.

    Enforce our existing laws.

  11. Jolyon Culbertson
    September 26, 2025

    I could mnot read your article explain why you think ID cards are not necessary as the article was behind a pay wall.

    But I wanted to say why I think an ID card would be a good thing. I carried one with a chip incorporated in it for 30 years while I lived in Hong Kong. It was very useful for proving identity in many commercial situations like banks and other transactions. It was also useful for border access and egress control using automated gates which were very reliable. It allowed access to any Government supplied service like hospital, tax department, driving licence etc. There is no problem with a digital version provided the physical version is also available for those not happy with digital systems. It’s just like a bank card that is also in your smart phone wallet. If parliament sets sensible policy on what it is used for and also what it is not used for there should be no great problem. After all between DVLA, NHS, HMRC and DWP Government knows almost everything about us already. I suggest it records Name(s), DoB, Blood Group and any special medical condition that would help in an emergency , Immigration status such as British Citizen, Student Visa, Work Visa, Criminal record (if any) and lastly Emergency contact person and phone number.

  12. Wanderer
    September 26, 2025

    We all have to fight this tooth and nail. I hope the Tories and Reform can work together on opposing it. Our democracy is going down the drain and I’m reminded of iron curtain cointries back in the 1950s. Shocking. Disgusting. Illiberal. Authoritarian. Unbritish.

  13. Rod Evans
    September 26, 2025

    Well Sr John, I read the piece at the Express but wading through the adverts and rubbish they put on the screen to distract readers, suggests they are not too interested in journalistic content only advertising space seems to interest the Express.
    Other than that I agree with your thoughts on DiD, it is clearly a move forced into play out of desperation by Starmer to be doing something. The fact it is counter productive and imposes an unnecessary burden on an already overburdened nation matters nothing to the Labour lot.

  14. formula57
    September 26, 2025

    The article is less than easy to find although I triumphed and so can offer a link – https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2113854/digital-id-labour-starmer

  15. formula57
    September 26, 2025

    Peter Lilley back in 2005 provided a brief but comprehensive note on why an ID cards system is inappropriate that some might find of interest – found @ https://www.peterlilley.co.uk/pdfs/Bow-Group-pamphlet-on-ID-Cards.pdf

    His views match points in your Express article.

  16. paul
    September 27, 2025

    Tony blair puppet.

  17. Ian B
    September 27, 2025

    Over-reach and deflection.
    The next thing we will hear is that elections have to be cancelled so as to stop the criminal invasion by boat

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