ID cards in Britain are “inevitably coming” for immigration controls, benefits and healthcare, says a senior Labour MP.
Dame Siobhain McDonagh backed identity cards being introduced in the country.
The Mitcham and Morden MP stressed that they would be an “easier and cheaper” way for people to confirm their identity and to be able to access public services.
As Prime Minister, Tony Blair pushed for ID cards in the UK.
Recently, the former PM again made the case for them.
“We need a plan to control immigration. If we don’t have rules, we get prejudices,” he argued.
“In office, I believed the best solution was a system of identity so that we know precisely who has a right to be here.
“With, again, technology, we should move as the world is moving to digital ID. If not, new border controls will have to be highly effective.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds appeared to be open to the ID cards idea, saying that the new Labour Government would “be looking at all sources of advice” on how to deal with immigration levels.
But the Government later ruled out the move, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stressing on ID cards that: “It’s not in our manifesto. That’s not our approach.”
However, Dame Siobhain, who was first elected an MP in 1997, believes they will eventually be brought in.
“I think they’re inevitably coming. Not just because of immigration, but the need to keep NHS records, because of benefit entitlements – all sorts of things. They’re coming,” she told the BBC’s Westminster Hour.
Pressed on whether she believed ID cards should be part of NHS and benefits reforms, she added: “I personally would, yeah, because I just think we’re ignoring the way the whole record keeping, AI thing is going, and they are inevitably going to end up happening because they are going to be easier and cheaper and because they are going to bring benefits to people.”
But Downing Street made clear there were no plans to bring in ID cards.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Government’s focus is on the steps it thinks will be the most effective in reducing ‘small boats’ crossings, reducing illegal immigration, and the Prime Minister’s speech today set out a range of measures we believe will be effective in smashing the criminal smuggling gangs and returning people who have no right to be here.”
Sir Keir Starmer announced at an Interpol summit in Glasgow a doubling of funding to £150 million for the Border Security Command.
The money will be used to fund high-tech surveillance equipment and 100 specialist investigators who will target criminals engaged in people smuggling.
