ID cards not Brexit ‘better at controlling immigration’
Report finds electronic identity card would address many voters’ concerns about immigration without the need for Brexit
 
The introduction of electronic identity cards would address many voters’ concerns about immigration without the need for Brexit, a report from Global Future has found.
Rather than being opposed to immigration in principle, the think tank suggests the public wants tougher action against criminals and those seen to be taking advantage of the rules.
To address these concerns, the report said ID cards that controlled people’s right to live, work, claim benefits and use public services should be coupled with a tougher approach to integration that would force immigrants to learn English.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The UK is the only EU country that does not have a national ID system and has often taken a more relaxed approach to managing free movement from the bloc, unlike some of its European counterparts.
In a bid to address the issue of immigration ahead of a possible People’s Vote, Charles Clarke and Alan Johnson writing in The Guardian have stressed the need to “re-establish a national identity system using new technology to establish secure digital identities for everyone. Among other benefits, this would make it easier to identify illegal migration.”
Arguing that Remain supporters needed to show they were responding to the issues that led people to vote for Brexit, former cabinet minister Lord Adonis also backed the findings.
“The choice between EU membership and controlling migration is a false one. Electronic ID cards would mean we know exactly who is here and give us real control over access to out public services and entitlements” he said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
However, calls to resurrect proposals for introducing ID cards in the UK “are likely to be condemned by civil rights campaigners”, says The Independent.
The Blair government put forward plans for a similar system but they were dropped by the Coalition following heavy opposition.
Despite positioning herself as tough on immigration, the irony is that Theresa May’s “first act as home secretary was to abolish identity cards, a central mechanism to give citizens confidence in the governance and control of migration” say the two former Labour home secretaries.
- 
 The week’s best photos The week’s best photosIn Pictures A monstrous parade, a hungry tortoise, and more 
- 
 The Week Unwrapped: Should we be eating less fat – or more? The Week Unwrapped: Should we be eating less fat – or more?Podcast Plus who will benefit from the surprise Dutch election result? And how can art improve our health? 
- 
 AI models may be developing a ‘survival drive’ AI models may be developing a ‘survival drive’Under the radar Chatbots are refusing to shut down 
- 
 Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICE Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch 
- 
 Chicago: Scenes from a city under siege Chicago: Scenes from a city under siegeFeature Chicago is descending into chaos as masked federal agents target people in public spaces and threaten anyone who tries to document the arrests 
- 
 How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda? How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are hindering the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Whistles emerge as Chicago’s tool to fight ICE Whistles emerge as Chicago’s tool to fight ICEIN THE SPOTLIGHT As federal agents continue raiding the city, communities have turned to noisemakers to create a warning system 
- 
 Are inflatable costumes and naked bike rides helping or hurting ICE protests? Are inflatable costumes and naked bike rides helping or hurting ICE protests?Talking Points Trump administration efforts to portray Portland and Chicago as dystopian war zones have been met with dancing frogs, bare butts and a growing movement to mock MAGA doomsaying 
- 
 Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strong Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support 
- 
 Trump’s deportations are changing how we think about food Trump’s deportations are changing how we think about foodIN THE SPOTLIGHT The Department of Labor’s admission that immigration raids have affected America’s food supplies reopens a longstanding debate