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Topics: UK News, Keir Starmer, Politics
Anish Vij
Topics: UK News, Keir Starmer, Politics
Sir Keir Starmer has clarified when you will actually need to use your digital ID ahead of the controversial 'BritCard' scheme.
The government said in September that it would be introducing a new digital ID scheme to all UK citizens and legal residents.
"Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK," Starmer said at the time. "It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure.
"And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly - rather than hunting around for an old utility bill."
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Since that announcement, there's been a fair bit of backlash after the Liberal Democrats argued that the idea of turning over private data 'just to go about our daily lives' is 'not the kind of country we want to be' in.
A petition to 'not introduce Digital ID cards' is also at 2,917,978 signatures, at the time of writing.
The Prime Minister has now explained when exactly you will be required to use a digital ID in the UK and why not everyone needs it.
He clarified that the identity card would only be mandatory to prove a person's right to work.
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"You'll never need ID to go into a hospital or anything like that," Starmer told BBC News.
"For people who simply don't want it, well, they don't need it - apart from the right to work, because we do need to stop people working illegally in our country to do that."
He also said that 'it won’t be the case' that digital ID would be used for surveillance.
“The idea of having ID on your phone is not that far removed from having bank accounts on your phone or any other apps that people have on their phones,” he added.
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Starmer claimed that customers at a Barclays branch in Brighton told him this week that they were 'really excited about it' and recalled 'everyday examples where you can just cut the faff'.
Staff also admitted that it would 'really help' with security and fraud.
The cards are set to be introduced before the end of this parliament.
However, technology specialist Rachel Coldicutt, has rightly pointed out that 'public opinion is largely split' by the idea.
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As reported by the BBC, she said: "There's a group who will welcome this, who use the wallet app on their phone every day and want that seamless service, another group who openly don't welcome it - and another group muddling through who don't want any more admin."