AIBU to think that Digital ID will not stop illegal immigration, and nor is it a good idea?

[Westfacing]

How will this prevent boat crossings?

It’s a way of tracking who is in the country.

Life will be difficult if you can’t prove who you are at various points.

Is the idea, I suppose.

It might be a way of tracking people but it won't stop them coming in the first place.

Well it's a big fat NO from me!

There's more to life than boat crossings fyi

It would helpfully help weed out more of the underground workers who don’t have the right to work. Things that make stuff like that harder do tend to deter at least some.

Many places have some type of ID system.

I don’t have a big issue with it but maybe I’m just not tin foil hat enough.

I'm not sure but I have seen on many threads people saying that one of the reasons people risk coming over here in small boats is because France requires people to have ID.

It's not a solution in itself, but it will help as people coming into the UK will find it much harder to 'disappear' and work in the black market. They will also need to produce it when using some services eg the NHS. It will therefore act as a disincentive to people choosing the UK. It is a good idea for everyone, and will bring the UK in line with most countries in Europe, giving government the data it needs to get a better grip on the costs for and take-up of government services.

Why don't you think it's a good idea, OP?

Employers are already obliged to investigate if people are allowed to work - many obviously don't do this, so I don't think they will be checking new official ID.

I'm far from the tin hat brigade by the way.

Are these IDs going to be linked to bank accounts does anyone know?

It won't.

It stops a major pull factor. Migrants know that of they come to the UK, as opposed to France or Germany, that our lack of digital ID means they can start work under the counter pretty much immediately.

The government is clamping down on big companies egvUber Eats, Amazon using black market labour and issuing big fines. The new ID will make it easier to check. Some of the people coming to the UK on boats throw their ID away so employers have nothing to check. With the new ID, they will have no excuse.

It's a bad look that some migrants are working illegally while the welfare bill for workless British people and legal immigrants continues to go up.

How does it stop hidden working exactly? If someone is prepared to employ someone illegally sure they wil carry on?

why would you be opposed to a Digital Id?
what freedoms would it curtail?

No idea about the impact it will have on immigration but I am for digital ID cards. Will mean I can finally stop carrying a bag around as I only need my purse for the ID. I don't really understand the angst about them.

Some will but the government is getting tougher on malpractice and fines are substantial.

Don’t think it will help that much with illegal immigration however I’d love an id card I can use for everything including European travel, if my drivers licence can be loaded onto it too and you can store it all on your phone, I’m most happy with that. I have nothing to hide

What freedoms will it curtail when reform come to power?

the potential for abuse is horrific
as is the potential for a cyber attack

what are the benefits ?

I think it’s a sign of my distrust in authorities today that make me uneasy - that whole “ you have nothing to fear if you have done nothing wrong” that we all know to be untrue

Being out of the EU, I doubt we will be allowed to travel without a passport.

I have my birth certificate, my marriage certificate, a current driving license and passport. I have bank accounts, I own a house, I have my name on utility bills.

If I need it, I can provide my parents and grandparents marriage and death certificates, and my grandfathers medals from WW1.

I am not paying for more ID.

Labour tried this shit years ago and it was deemed "too expensive".

But do they need a digital id to get tougher on illegal working? I mean shouldn’t everyone have an NI number already ? Why exactly will it help ?

Why don't you think it's a good idea, OP?

Regarding employment - we all have a National Insurance Number and that should determine if you are allowed to work. But it's been open to abuse and fraud for decades, and the new ID will go the same way.

As for the NHS - if people are sick, they are sick and will be treated!

It's one more layer of bureaucracy that will end in chaos and make billions for Capita, Fujitsu, Huawe, etc., whoever gets the contract.

Yep, forgot that - I also have (somewhere) the card with my NI number on.

Will it be as well as or instead of a passport?
Not keen on shelling out another £90 every 10 years!

People in the country irregularly don't have an NI number. It will help because everyone will have the new ID. Employers will have no excuse not to check ID. Some are currently employing irregular migrants who have destroyed the ID from their home country.