Nigel Farage expressed his strong opposition to the mandatory digital ID cards on social media platform X, contending that while they won’t deter illegal immigration, they will undoubtedly be used to exert control and impose penalties on the general populace.

“The state should never have this much power,” he added. 

While Starmer’s plan has drawn fire from both the left and right, albeit for very different reasons, polls suggest the public mood is also shifting.

The Independent reported that more than half of Brits backed digital IDs in June, with fewer than 20% opposed.

However, public backing for such measures has sharply declined, with almost half of the British population now expressing disapproval, as reported by a news outlet.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks during a press conference in Westminster, United Kingdom on June 10, 2025.  ( Thomas Krych/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The digital ID card, which can be kept on a smartphone, would include a holder’s name, residency status, date of birth and nationality. British reports said it would initially be used only for employment verification, though its scope could be expanded.

The plan faces resistance: more than 2.4 million Brits have signed a petition on Parliament’s website opposing it, the BBC reported. Any petition with over 100,000 signatures must be considered for debate.

No. 10 could not be immediately reached for comment.