Starmer Confirms Mandatory 'Brit‑Card' as Petition Tops One Million

A petition started in July by campaigner Maxine Sutcliff has surged to more than one million signatures, reflecting rapid public unease about mandatory digital ID plans. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed a free, smartphone-based “Brit‑Card” will be mandatory to work in the UK by the end of this Parliament and will be checked against a central database. Ministers say the IDs will use on-device encryption, biometric checks and revocable credentials, and that the system will curb illegal working, reduce forged documents and speed access to services; a public consultation is promised. Opponents — including civil liberties groups and figures from the Lib Dems, some Conservatives and Reform UK — warn the scheme risks mass surveillance, data breaches and intrusive state control. Questions have also been raised about the legitimacy of some petition signatures and the practicality and cost of rolling out such an IT system.