Get your brit card

[Peoplesoft bloke]

I don't have an issue with an ID card in principle. Because the UK has always shied away from them, people are forced to use other documents as proof of identity and some can be very expensive to obtain......

For once, I think Kemi said the right thing: it's just a statement to distract from Andy Burnham's shenanigans.

Ironic since Burnham was such a good boy supporting the last ID scheme but is apparently opposed to this one.

[SueEllen]

I think the average take-away, restaurant or builder's gang would be easily fooled by a Photoshop fake.

Apparently builders don't care.

There are a few ID schemes already for them and there is no enforcement.

[Smartie]

Certainly many people hang out in the convenience corner of the security - privicy - convenience triangle.

Many of us choose carefully which Apps to use; some of us still prefer websites for financial transactions.

ps - I don’t use Google!

Fair enough, and I'm also quite careful about privacy and apps.

Having said that I'm pretty sure that those shouting loudest about the tyranny of ID checks know little about those issues and care even less.

[SueEllen]

Fair enough, and I'm also quite careful about privacy and apps.

Having said that I'm pretty sure that those shouting loudest about the tyranny of ID checks know little about those issues and care even less.

Scope creep!

[Stevep42]

I get the idea behind a digital ID, and it could make some things easier, like proving who you are online or in certain services, but I’m a bit wary. From what I’ve seen with other schemes, there’s always a chance it could slowly be used for more than originally intended. I’d want to see clear rules and safeguards before feeling comfortable using something like this myself.

[ladymuck]

If it's to be used in those transactions where you're asked to provide a passport or driver's license (that are simply too expensive for some people to obtain) then I'm all for it, if it is going to be free and there is an option for people without smartphones.

However to use it as proof of the right to work is a nonsense as people who currently employ those without a right to work will continue to do so. It won't act as a deterrent in the slightest.

[woody1]

However to use it as proof of the right to work is a nonsense as people who currently employ those without a right to work will continue to do so. It won't act as a deterrent in the slightest.

Who are these people who are working without a right to work? Presumably they won't even have a national insurance number?

What comes to mind are people who have been trafficked, modern slavery, sex workers, maids. Employers, if you can even call them that, won't give a flying toss about ID cards. They're already breaking the law (minimum wage, PAYE, NI).

[ladymuck]

Who are these people who are working without a right to work? Presumably they won't even have a national insurance number?

What comes to mind are people who have been trafficked, modern slavery, sex workers, maids. Employers, if you can even call them that, won't give a flying toss about ID cards. They're already breaking the law (minimum wage, PAYE, NI).

Of course they won't have an NI number. How naive are you about the shadow economy?

Those are exactly the sort of "employers" I'm talking about. There was a period when nail bars were springing up on many high streets that had a reputation as hot beds of trafficking. I think there was comment above about how there's supposed to be construction industry ID that is rarely checked too.

There's allegedly people working as deliveroo/just eat delivery drivers who "hire" someone else's login. I don't know how widespread that is, or whether it's just right-wing rumour mongering from a few isolated cases, but I can see it being easy to achieve.

[northernladuk]

Who are these people who are working without a right to work? Presumably they won't even have a national insurance number?

What comes to mind are people who have been trafficked, modern slavery, sex workers, maids. Employers, if you can even call them that, won't give a flying toss about ID cards. They're already breaking the law (minimum wage, PAYE, NI).

In the UK the number of barber shops per capita means there is a barbers shop for every 1352 people in the country. Then you get on to Nail Salons, hand car washes you name it. The police openly admit they are worried about them for everything from modern slavery to money laundering.

[woody1]

I imagine a large proportion of the business owners/employers are here legally (British citizens or naturalized).

But I guess "British firms illegally exploiting foreign workers" doesn't sound as good as "Illegal immigrants taking our jobs".