Northern Ireland Parties Unite Against UK Labour's Digital ID Plans

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has proposed a mandatory digital ID system called the "Brit-Card" aimed at verifying eligibility to live and work in the UK, positioned as a tool to tackle illegal immigration. The plan has sparked widespread opposition across Northern Ireland's political spectrum, including unionist and nationalist parties, who argue it threatens civil liberties and could breach the Good Friday Agreement by imposing a British identity on citizens with strong Irish affiliations. Critics also raise concerns about data security, the practicality for citizens without access to digital technology, and the compulsory nature of the scheme, describing it as an intrusive expansion of state control. Piers Corbyn, a political activist, has criticized the digital ID as a threat to freedom, warning it could lead to financial control through programmable money and punitive measures. Unionist leaders, including DUP's Gavin Robinson, have highlighted that the scheme would do little to address illegal immigration at the borders and instead create bureaucratic hurdles for ordinary citizens. The opposition calls for more robust and fair immigration enforcement that respects privacy and individual rights rather than mandatory digital ID requirements.