Can we say how many people come to the UK illegally and work here?published at 14:11 BST 26 September

14:11 BST 26 September

By Rob England

One reason behind the government’s plan to introduce digital ID cards is to help tackle illegal working.

The so-called informal economy, made up of people and businesses operating outside official employment and tax systems, has been cited as one factor attracting people to the UK without legal permission.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that removing this “pull factor” could help deter people from making irregular journeys to the UK, such as crossing the Channel in small boats.

But it remains unclear how many people are in the UK without permission, and how many are working in the informal economy.

Official figures show 49,341 people were detected entering the UK without permission, external in the year to June 2025 - up 27% on the previous year. Nearly 90% of these were small boat arrivals.

Others arrived by hiding in vehicles such as lorries or ferries, or by air before being stopped at airports.

But these are only people who were detected, and the Home Office says it is not possible to know the total number.

It is also possible to arrive in the UK via legal means, but then become unauthorised - for example, overstaying on a visa.

Various estimates for the size of the informal economy have been made over the years, some reaching into the high hundreds of thousands, but Oxford University's Migration Observatory, external think tank says these should be treated with caution, due to the difficulty of producing reliable data.

We've now ended our live coverage on digital IDs, but you can stay across further updates in our main news story or read more about the scheme in our explainer.

Cachella Smith
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

Keir Starmer has shared new plans to introduce digital ID cards for all adults wanting to work in the UK.

The scheme, which is part of a wider effort to crackdown on illegal working, would be introduced by the end of Parliament, the government has said.

Stored on mobile phones, the ID would contain details including a name, date of birth, residency status and crucially a photo - which would distinguish it from National Insurance numbers.

The announcement hasn't gained support from the main opposition parties, as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dubbed it a "desperate gimmick", while the Lib Dems have voiced concerns around data security.

But that doesn't much matter, writes political correspondent Harry Farley, as Labour has a large enough majority in the Commons that they will only need to convince their own MPs to support digital IDs.

The BBC understands that a consultation on precise details will be launched shortly - although it is likely to be many months before we see anything passed into legislation.

We'll be closing our live coverage shortly, but in our next post, BBC Verify looks into how many people are working in the UK illegally - a key consideration for Starmer's digital ID scheme.

Image source, PA Media

When Keir Starmer announced his plans for digital IDs earlier today, he said Britain had been too "squeamish" when it came to the topic of illegal migration.

The Green Party leader has just offered his response to this comment, and says the opposite is true.

Instead, Zack Polanski says politicians in the UK have been talking about immigration in the "most toxic and dehumanising way possible".

"These comments are lapped up and regurgitated on a near-daily basis as talking points without any real balance," he says.

Polanski adds that political parties are now "too eager to distract us by pointing the finger".

Yasmin Malik
BBC Newsbeat

Emlyn Jenkins, 23, is against digital IDs, describing the plan as "fascistic and horrible".

Emlyn is not convinced digital ID cards will help to reduce the "incredible panic about illegal immigration", which they say is overblown.

Emlyn believes it would be more effective for the government to put more effort into reducing its backlog of asylum applications.

They also have concerns about how any ID requirement would impact people who don't have access to the necessary technology, which is something our correspondent addressed earlier.

"How will people who are homeless be affected if they don’t have access to a smartphone or they don’t have access to consistent internet?" asks Emlyn.

Tom Gerken
Technology reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As our previous post indicates, data security will be a chief concern for some in the UK. But it's also tricky to answer if the government will be able to track you - as we don’t yet know the details of today’s announcement.

For example, will digital ID be a standalone app on your phone? Or will it be more like the NHS Covid Pass, which could be stored as a PDF on your device, or in a digital wallet?

If it is stored in a digital wallet, there would be little risk. These systems are secure enough that millions of people already use them to store cards and boarding passes - and Apple is even planning to allow people to store their passports this way, meaning people who use this will carry with them a digital ID anyway.

But if it was a standalone app, that would be more complicated - it goes without saying that any new app on your phone has the potential to track your movements. Apps can track your phone using things like your device’s GPS, for example - but generally this is something you have to opt in to.

Apps will often ask for permission to access things like location services, your call history or messages - and you can simply say “no” when asked. But some apps require these things to function properly, and it is impossible to say at this stage whether that would be the case.

Yasmin Malik
BBC Newsbeat

Arianwen Fox-James, 20, says she has concerns about the government's digital ID plans.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat in Birmingham city centre, she says the idea of a "centralised hub of all the data” makes her uncomfortable.

“I really don’t think we have the digital infrastructure for that," she says, adding that she wants to know “how that data is going to be stored".

Fox-James says there could be some practical benefits to digital IDs, assuming they would be easier to update than official documents.

She says her provisional driving licence, which includes a photo of her taken when she was 15, often gets questioned.

Overall, she doesn't support the government's plans - particularly as a solution to illegal immigration.

“If the government really wanted to deal with people working illegally, they’d make the immigration process easier and they’d make it more accessible for people," she says.

• Earlier, when Keir Starmer confirmed his plans to introduce a digital ID, he said it was being done to ensure Britain's "borders are more secure"

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

As we've been reporting, there are still lots of questions to be answered around digital IDs.

For example, the BBC understands the government is consulting on whether gender will be included on digital IDs.

Often when ministers introduce a major new piece of law, there will be a public consultation beforehand. That is when experts, campaign groups, and those directly affected by the policy have the chance to submit their views.

The government must then publish its response to that consultation.

I understand the government consultation will be launched shortly, and then ministers will bring a draft law before Parliament, likely next year. That must pass all its stages in the Houses of Commons and Lords before it could become law.

Bear in mind other parties are united in their opposition to this idea - and they are not alone.

More than 700,000 people have signed a petition opposed to it. The government will have to respond to that petition but it won’t stop it becoming law.

And remember, Labour has a big majority in the Commons, so what really matters is the views of Labour MPs.

Regardless, it is likely to be many months before digital IDs could become law, and then there will be a period of implementation.

So none of this will happen quickly.

Anna Holligan
Reporting from The Hague

In the final question put to BBC experts, Theresa in Edinburgh asks: how will digital IDs work for people who don't have access to a laptop or a smartphone?

One of the conversations here is people should not be excluded from services and it should be ensured people have access.

If you don't have your digital ID and don't have a phone you can go to your local council office and say you don't have a way to access services through your digital ID.

Here in the Netherlands - where digital IDs are used - the last time I forgot my login details I was able to get an SMS and login a different way.

For most countries there has to be a backup for the elderly and those who don't have phones so they are able to access the vital services they are entitled to.

Our experts are now done answering questions on digital IDs - but you can continue sending your queries to Your Voice, Your BBC News here.

Our next question comes from Luke, a pub manager in Dorset. He says ID cards would make things easier for him - but he wants to know how it will impact those working in the gig economy or cash-traders.

Business correspondent Marc Ashdown answers first:

The government wants to make things easier, ensure people are paying the correct tax.

As things stand, if someone like Luke makes a mistake it could cost as much as £45,000 per employee for a first offence and £60,000 per employee for repeat offences. The government's statistics show there were just 2,000 fines handed out in the past year - much less than the total number of people likely working in this 'shadow industry'.

On cash trading, our Europe correspondent Anna Holligan shares her insights:

In the Netherlands, if someone was working but only got paid in cash they'd still need their digital ID for all of the other services they need for their daily life.

Across Europe it takes many different forms and the UK government is likely cherry-picking the best bits from countries like Estonia - who are leading the way on digital IDs.

Marc Ashdown
Business correspondent

Mary from Somerset now asks why we need digital IDs if we already have National Insurance numbers.

The National Insurance point is a good one - but the main change here is the digital ID would have a photo attached to it.

At the moment, it is quite easy to borrow, steal or use someone else's National Insurance number and that is part of the problem in the shadow economy - people sharing National Insurance numbers for example.

The idea is you would have a picture attached which would make it - in theory - harder to abuse that system.

• A reminder, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said earlier that your National Insurance number - which shows your right to work in the UK - will no longer be sufficient to prove your right to work in the UK. Employers will need to see your digital ID.

Marc Ashdown
Business correspondent

One of the most common questions being asked by readers is a simple one: what is a digital ID?

A digital ID as an idea has been around since the early 2000s when then-Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested introducing a mandatory ID card.

Keir Starmer's push here is to curb illegal working. There is a lot of concern around the gig economy, the shadow economy and 'jobs for cash'.

These are areas that do contribute to output, helping money flow within the UK economy, but there's concern over whether people are paying the correct tax and if it enables illegal workers.

It seems digital IDs will be mandatory for every person of a working age who also wants to work in the UK.

It would contain:

• A photo
• And it would be housed on your smartphone

You wouldn't have to present it at work on a routine basis, but when you're applying for a job or rental with a landlord you'd have to provide this to show you have a legal right to work and live in the UK .

All morning we've been putting together a list of your questions on Starmer's plan to introduce digital IDs and what it will mean for you.

We're getting set up to answer those questions shortly with our team of experts, which includes:

• Rob Watson, political correspondent
• Anna Holligan, foreign correspondent in The Hague
• Marc Ashdown, business correspondent
• Neil Carberry, chief executive from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation

Do you have a question? You can still send one in via Your Voice, Your BBC News and you'll be able to watch live as our host Lauren Taylor put those questions to our team, starting from 12:30BST.

As we've now finished hearing from the PM about the government's plans to introduce a digital ID scheme, it's worth revisiting our earlier questions about what we do and don't know about this proposal.

So far, we now know:

• It will include a name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photo
• You won't have to carry IDs around
• You'll never be asked to produce it - other than when proving a right to work in the UK
• The ID will be on people's phones - similar to contactless cards
• It will be compulsory for anyone looking to work in the UK

What we still don't know:

• When exactly the scheme will be introduced - the government says it will be mandatory "by the end of the Parliament"
• Whether the card will include people's address - this will be considered in the government's consultation
• What those without smartphones will use - the government says it's working on this element

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

The prime minister has just confirmed that digital ID will be mandatory in order to work in the UK, as part of his government's wider plans to tackle illegal migration.

Introducing the scheme, Starmer said: "Let me spell it out. You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that".

The PM also said:

• It has been "too easy" for people to "slip into the shadow economy and remain here illegally"
• Britain has been "squeamish" about the topic of illegal migration
• The country's problems won't be solved "if we don't take on the root causes"

Away from the digital ID scheme, Starmer also told the summit of centre-left leaders :

• The government is investing in UK energy to "take the boot of tyrants like Putin off our throat"
• Referring to recent political commentary, he declared that London is not a wasteland - despite what some would have you believe
• It seemed to be a rebuttal to President Trump and other politicians who have criticised the capital recently, writes our political correspondent

Here's the moment Starmer talks about digital ID, saying "frankly, we've been squeamish about saying things that are clearly true... every nation needs to have control over its borders".

Watch it below:

Starmer has finished speaking, but let's bring you a few more key lines.

Turning to the war in Ukraine, Starmer says the conflict is also about energy security, because Russia's Vladimir Putin has used control over energy supplies "as a threat", pushing up bills in the UK.

That's why the government is investing in the UK's energy, Starmer says, which he says will create good jobs and "take the boot of tyrants like Putin off our throat".

"The UK's mission to become a clean energy superpower is about future-proofing energy supply, bringing energy bills down and protecting the planet we all live on."

Starmer hits back at London 'wasteland' criticismpublished at 11:27 BST 26 September

11:27 BST 26 September

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

Starmer has made much of his close relationship with Donald Trump.

But in his speech to centre-left leaders from around the world, he just said London was not “the wasteland of anarchy” that some portray.

That will be interpreted as a rebuttal to Trump and other US politicians who have criticised the capital recently.

Starmer said there is an “industrialised infrastructure of grievance” created on social media that “is miserable, joyless, demonstrably untrue”.

For context: President Trump told the UN this week that London under Mayor Sadiq Khan wants "to go to Sharia law". In response, Khan said: "People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multi-cultural, progressive and successful city, that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump's head."

Image source, Reuters

Echoing his article in the Telegraph overnight, Starmer says that Britain has "shied away from the topic of illegal immigration".

"We've been squeamish," he says.

Starmer says the simple fact is every nation needs control of its borders, but the immigration system needs to be "fair" or it undermines the trust and faith of people.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirms the government will introduce digital IDs to ensure Britain's "borders are more secure".

Unveiling the announcement, Starmer says "you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID".

"It's as simple as that."

"We won't solve our problems if we don't take on the root causes," the PM adds.

Image source, Reuters

The prime minister is yet to talk about digital ID cards - instead speaking broadly about how "national renewal" is the "beating heart" of centre-left parties.

Citing the "coalition of the willing" of allies working on Ukraine, Starmer says it's "strong not just because of the depth of our shared beliefs, but because we recognise that the security and safety of the people that we serve depends on our relationships [with each other]."

He then calls for a restoration of pride in where people live and work, and it is time for "patriotic renewal".