Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce the launch of a digital ID system for all British citizens, which the government says will help to tackle illegal immigration. A petition launched on the official Parliament website has surged to over 600,000 signatures, calling for the plans to be halted.

In a speech on Friday, Starmer is expected the say that the move will help to clamp down on those who “slip into the shadow economy and remain here illegally”. The digital IDs would be stored on a government-made smartphone app, and alternatives will be made available for those who don't or can't have a smartphone, such as very elderly people.

Examples of when it will be used include when applying for a new job or renting a new property, allowing employers and landlords to check a pers

See Full Page