Irish government consulted on cross-border digital IDs, says Benn

A white haired man with clear round spectacles wears a black suit, white shirt ad red tie. He stands at a podium speaking into two skinny black microphones. The mic's sit on top of a red banner which reads 'Renew Britain. There is a red and white horizontal stripe behind him on the wall.Reuters

The NI secretary of state has defended the new scheme

Enda McClafferty
Northern Ireland political editor

The Irish government is being consulted about how the new controversial UK digital ID scheme will impact cross-border workers, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn has confirmed.

Under the scheme aimed at tightening border controls, the IDs will be compulsory for all those working in the UK.

But the move has been criticised by all the Stormont parties, with Sinn Féin claiming it to be an attack on the Good Friday Agreement which protects those wishing to identify as Irish or British, or both.

The party said it will resist any move to force the digital IDs, labelled "Brit cards", on Irish citizens in Northern Ireland.

The secretary of state however has defended the new scheme, insisting it is "the future".

He also said the government "will ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is upheld in letter and in spirit", adding: "I understand that people in Northern Ireland, under the Good Friday Agreement, can identify as British or Irish or both".

Benn added the government will also "respect" the common travel area which allows for free movement between north and south.

He said discussions with the Irish government on how this will work in practice have already started.

"We will find a way of making this work. It is the future and it will also help to combat illegal migration."

But the Northern Ireland secretary refused to say if there will be a bespoke arrangement for Northern Ireland, which will be different from other parts of the UK.

A consultation on the new scheme is due to open later this year and the government hopes to have it in operation before 2029.

Nigel Farage, who has short grey hair parted to the side speaks at a podium with the words Operation Restoring Justice on it. He is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red spotted tie.PA Media

Reform leader Nigel Farage was accused in the secretary of state's speech of trying to "undermine the Good Friday Agreement"

The secretary of state was speaking after addressing delegates at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

In his speech, he attacked Reform leader Nigel Farage for trying to "undermine the Good Friday Agreement by walking away from the European Convention on Human Rights".

"It is wrong and reckless and we have to make sure it never happens," he said.

Benn also reaffirmed the government's commitment to dealing with the legacy of the Troubles through its new framework agreed with the Irish government.

He added that rights and protections will be introduced for veterans who he said "had sacrificed so much to protect the people of Northern Ireland and bring about peace".

"A way forward is finally within our grasp," he added.

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