ID cards were introduced in the First World War to aid with conscription and abolished afterwards in 1919. Why did the coalition government scrap ID cards? Picking up that theme, Labour backbenchers have called for digital ID cards both to streamline interactions with the state but also to allow better enforcement against illegal working. Is the government considering introducing digital ID cards for UK citizens? In response, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that digital ID cards would “not really solve the problem” of helping to control migration, Reform have expressed concerns about the implications for privacy and argued they will not work, though Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said that "times have changed" and his party should not be "knee-jerk" in its opposition to digital ID cards.

Source: The Times September 25, 2025 17:23 UTC