ID cards to be introduced. What do you feel. ?

[Fishingboatbobbingnight]

I have worked in serious organised crime for two decades. This is one of the best bits of news I have read in a long while. I have also been involved in ‘small boat’ arrivals. The reason people will by pass several safe EU countries to get to the UK is ‘I can get lost if I don’t get asylum’ ‘UK has no ID cards’ . It’s a no brainer .. why why has it taken so long. ? If you want to have the services your country has to offer - through most of the world - from healthcare to the library- you need to show you are a bona-fida citizen. However , for some unfathomable reason , the flag waving right wingers are always the one to oppose ..is it because they are scared it will work and leave their thinly veiled racism floundering ?

Yes to ID cards = YANBU
No to ID cards = YABU

It has happen already with gov.uk one login app for all directors in Companies House and lots of professionals requiring this app and evisa holders. The government is expanding it but hacking issue and no outsourcing to Palentir, Capital or other large outfits that cost a lot and overrun time frame.

Agreed. I live in the US and the drivers' license is a de facto ID card. It's an actual card - I don't think there is even a digital option, in fact.

Yes like the SS. Initially I thought it was a good idea, now I’ve learned that the government will hold the details and can use the data for whatever they like

Identification fraud is a real thing and having a id card / number makes this really hard. Must be very easy to be anybody you want to be in the UK…

Maybe there are benefits to it.

Most people have a NI number don’t they? What’s the difference if it is digital with your photo and biometrics?

My French family always say one of the reason asylum seekers don't want to stay in France but aim for the UK is that we don't have ID cards. But it is a central thing about English liberty and our liberal traditions that we don't have to carry ID papers - that our honour and self-declaration of our legal identity is enough.

But on balance, I think ID cards will sole a number of problems, particularly as we have to have official id papers of some sort to vote.

Honestly, not much. A lot of countries on the continent use ID cards, they are not be digital, but the principle is the same. They collect your fingerprints and other personal info for it, and nobody even bats an eye.

Whilst I think it’s about time we had a card that covered everything ie same number for driving licence, NHS, passport (not sure if this is how it will work), I’m afraid I have zero trust that this will make one ounce of difference to tackling the real issue.

The honest people in this country will duly get their card, show it when required etc. The dishonest, the people here illegally etc will get away with it like they do now. I heard a case on the news today of a Pakistani student who, 2 years ago, ran a hideaway sign whilst driving an uninsured vehicle and an invalid driving licence. He ran into and killed a young man whose father then watched as he died in the road. The man who did this served 10 weeks in prison and is STILL IN THIS COUNTRY and refuses to leave. How will ID cards stop this? How will ID cards stop the courts telling us that criminals and illegals have a right to family life and all the benefits of living here although they are the last people we want here.

The government is weak and ineffective and the courts constantly give more rights to criminals and illegals. ID cards won’t change this.

Loads of countries have this it’s really common. You just get used to carrying ID. When I lived in NL it was mandatory for everyone over 14. In all honesty I was never asked but I know people who got stopped for cycling without lights and asked or being a bit drunk and rambunctious (students and beer used to be 50c!)

It actually saves the police a lot of time as they don’t have to spend time finding out if people are who they say they are. You are registered at local town hall too. So your ID card will be tied to your address. Which means for teenagers it’s a very short transition from being spoken to by the police to your parents being called. It cuts down on low level anti social behaviour.

I have a passport and a driver licence so I never understand why people are so against an ID card. Seems to be pretty similar to me.

Having had to cough up £100+ for a new passport for ID a few months ago it's a great idea. It's the way things are now and I don't think the UK can afford to fall behind.

Not so keen on the idea if there's a cost attached to it though.

Good point. So if not to be used for deporting anyone then just to stop people working….but they will still work cash in hand at the sort of places who currently are happy to employ people with no NI numbers. Or happy to turn a blind eye to people sharing digital ID. We already know that this is an issue with companies like Deliveroo, one person with legal right to work shares his employee app with loads of people and they’re all working. What’s to stop a digital ID being shared for a right to work check.

I’m waiting to hear the details, particularly on enforcement. If ID cards are properly enforced then it will become impossible to legally work or drive. If it also becomes impossible to claim any form of benefits, access any kind of education or access any form of NHS or other publicly funded healthcare without an ID card I will be in favour, because it will act as a real deterrent against illegal immigration.

Without proper, serious enforcement it will become pointless bureaucracy and I will be opposed to it.

Isn’t the intention to not let people opt out? I agree btw.

We never get asked for an ID card by police officials.

Work permits and visas for foreigners are linked to your passport because well if you are a foreigner here then you should have a passport.

The only thing we get asked for by police is driving licenses because you should have one if you’re driving a vehicle.

Your ID number allows you safe access to education, healthcare, tax systems, banking, social grants, unemployment insurance etc.

Emotionally very unkeen about it.

However, there just seem to more and more issues like migration, benefit fraud, access to health and tax that probably would benefit from it in theory. The process started during COVID where traceability systems accelerated in development. It’s not going to be from a standing start. There needs to be strong protection to stop the abuse of people’s data by public officials ie prison. The temptation would be great for criminals to enter public service

I don't see what difference it will make either. To legally work, an NI number is needed, and to access health services NHS number is needed.

Makes you sound like a criminal.... if misinterpreted... Most people understand you are ra polis

I too am ok with it in principle. My worries would be around safety of data and how it would work for those (eg my elderly mother) who "don't do digital/technology". As others have said, the homeless, the mentally ill...there are others who would struggle and I wonder how they get round this in other countries where they already have it?

I don't have a driving licence or passport. An ID card would solve a lot of problems.
I could actually open another bank account!

Erm... Like most countries. Are you suggesting most EU are like SS??? Or am I misunderstanding here

Great idea. Will also make it much easier for some of our more broken young people to get working as ID and getting ID can be a massive barrier to work.

What if someone steals my smartphone? Will they have access to my digital ID?

Gone past caring, I am not interesting enough to be bothered personally but watch as all our details get cybercrimed out!

If it will be like in other places where you have access to digital version it will be a log in and some form of two step authentication. Like if you have banking app

We have them where I live.

It's great. Can travel all over the EU with it and also Scandinavia, Turkey, Morocco, and Luxembourg.