Digital ID not a ‘silver bullet’ to tackle illegal migration, minister says
The UK Government’s plans to create a digital ID system in Britain will not be a “silver bullet” to end illegal immigration, a minister has said.
Ian Murray said the plan, which will be introduced by the end of the current Parliament, is part of a wider crackdown on people working illegally in the UK.
The digital government minister shot down claims it would be called a “BritCard”, saying it was “not a BritCard”.
Mr Murray also said it was neither a “mandatory” nor a card, but later added that it would be mandatory “for some purposes”.
He admitted that the Government needed to “make the case” for the program and “listen to and address people’s concerns about safety, security and privacy”.
Asked whether it was needed to tackle illegal immigration, Mr Murray told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “We have been very clear that this is not a magic solution, but it does have two significant positives in terms of compulsory right-to-work control.
“This means businesses have it easier.
“It creates a level playing field and fairness for businesses that always do the right thing but are overshadowed by businesses that don’t.”
He added that this would help prevent people from being “lost in the shadow economy”.
The minister, who was sacked as Scottish secretary last month before being given new ministerial duties, disputed claims by Scotland’s First Minister that the card was intended to “force every Scot to declare ourselves British”.
John Swinney has said he will oppose the digital identity plan and any description of it, including the “BritCard” label.
Mr Murray accused the SNP leader of opposing the policy “for objection’s sake”.
“This is essentially SNP policy signed when the First Minister was deputy first minister in 2021,” he said.
“They said they wanted to digitize the government, modernize the government so that people can access government services more easily.
“That’s exactly what this policy is, and I think it’s just the Prime Minister objecting for objection’s sake.”
Responding to claims that it would be called “BritCard”, Mr Murray said: “This is not a BritCard.
“This was something made up years ago by a think tank before it was announced.
“This is not a BritCard, will never be called a BritCard and was never intended to be called a BritCard.”
Mr Murray said there were “many ways nationality can be defined” in digital identity, pointing to Northern Ireland where he said people could declare themselves as Irish, British or both.
“So that will have to be taken into consideration,” he said.
“I am confident that such discussions with the Welsh and Scottish governments will be exactly the same.”
Ivan McKee, Scotland’s public finance minister, said: “The Scottish Government opposes the UK Government’s proposals for compulsory identity cards.
“Ministers have been clear that, aside from privacy concerns, these proposals from the UK Government would not be a good use of public money at a time when people are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“ScotAccount is not comparable to what the UK Government is proposing; its use is not mandatory and it does not provide a centrally searchable database of people’s personal information.”
