Legions of Labour MPs are pushing to revive a Tony Blair-era digital ID scheme in a bid to curb a surge in illegal migration to Britain.
Three groups of party MPs – the Labour Growth Group, the Red Wall Group and the Blue Labour group – have all told the Government to “get a grip”, and have pointed to the former Prime Minister’s long-held push for ID cards as a starting point.
An open letter from the 40 Labour lawmakers says that the digital documents could help target “off-the-books” employment – which has long been touted as one of the biggest draws of illegal migrants to the UK.
It reads: “This Government will only succeed if it is able to get a grip of illegal migration. A key plank of this initiative must be tackling illegal ‘off-the-books’ employment.”
‘Off-the-books’ employment has long been touted as one of the biggest draws of illegal migrants to the UK
PA
“Without a gear shift in this area, we will be in danger of looking back wistfully at a golden, missed opportunity. Now is the time to act,” the document adds – and references how other major economies have long held ID cards.
One signatory, Rother Valley MP Jake Richards, said: “This is the kind of transformative, common-sense change voters across the UK are crying out for. But the Government has got to move rapidly if we’re going to make it a reality.”
It comes just weeks after number of “rising star” Labour MPs met with Blair himself.
In late January, Labour parliamentarians met with the former Prime Minister for a breakfast meeting in the London HQ of his think tank, the Tony Blair Institute.
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That was one of a number of small meetings – which were “more than just a think tank lobbying MPs on policy”, people familiar with them told Politico.
The ex-Prime Minister also appeared to be “building a network”, they said, shaping broader Labour politics and keeping an eye on “talent” of the future.
Blair has long called for the imposition of a digital ID system – and today, his think tank still does.
Many Britons, however, have long voiced their resistance to any kind of ID system – with campaign group Big Brother Watch warning they are “Orwellian” and hailing Winston Churchill for scrapping them in 1952.
Despite the letter, the Government has shut down talk of a digital ID scheme
PA
And at the moment, the Government itself is saying no, too. A spokesman said: “We are committed to using technology to improve lives and transform public services.
“Digital identities offer a secure, efficient way for people to prove who they are without physical documents, reducing fraud and saving time.
“Trusted providers following Government rules are already conducting hundreds of thousands of digital checks monthly, helping people access employment, housing and vital services more quickly and easily.
“At the same time this is boosting productivity, driving economic efficiency and supporting long-term growth as part of our plan for change.”