We're combing through the government's press statement detailing their plans for a digital ID for adults working in the UK.

In short, the government says it will act as "proof of who someone is and their residency status in this country".

So far we know that:

• It will include a name, DOB, 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
• The government says it will "take the best aspects" of digital ID systems from Australia, Estonia, Denmark and India, citing access to private services, child benefits, health and education records

We don't know:

• The specifics of which services you'll be able to access via digital ID
• 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

Rob Lawrie, a former soldier turned aid worker and co-host of the BBC's To Catch a Scorpion podcast, says a digital ID will not deter illegal migrants from coming to the UK.

Lawrie tells the Today programme on Radio 4 that last night he called people who had made it here by crossing the channel, as well as those in France and Greece hoping to make the journey, to ask if this digital ID scheme would put them off coming.

"And the answer was 100% 'no,'" he says.

Lawrie adds that it's "too attractive" for migrants to come to the UK as the "shadow economy in this country is almost industrialised. It's so big, people can easily access it".

Working in the shadow economy in other European countries is frowned upon "almost like drink driving", Lawrie continues.

He also says that when he heard about the plans for a digital ID and all the data being stored on a central database he could "almost hear hackers rubbing their hands together with glee."

To Catch a Scorpion tells the story of the dramatic hunt for one of Europe’s most-wanted people smugglers, recorded as it unfolds.

You can listen on BBC Sounds.

The Liberal Democrats are "struggling" to see how a digital ID would "really have an impact on the illegal migration crisis", Shadow Attorney General Ben Maguire tells the BBC.

"We're quite concerned this seems to be the government's priority considering what's going on in the country," Maguire continues, giving the example of "from healthcare to transport".

He adds that another of the party's concerns is about people he describes as already "digitally excluded", including older and disabled people.

When asked about immigration and the ID being required for people to work, Maguire replies saying there are are asylum seekers "working kind of under the table," adding: "It seems quite difficult to see how a digital ID card would suddenly bring those people into the system."

Image source, Reuters

In the last few days, some groups already made their opposition to the idea of digital ID cards known.

A letter sent to the prime minister on Wednesday, from Big Brother Watch and seven other civil liberties groups, urges the government to abandon the plans it says will "push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows".

The organisation has also collected over 111,000 signatures on a petition calling for the rejection of the so-called "Brit Card".

Other prominent critics include the former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis. "No system is immune to failure," says the MP. "And we have seen time and again governments and tech giants fail to protect people's personal data."

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"We must be absolutely clear that tackling every aspect of the problem of illegal immigration is essential," the prime minister writes in the Daily Telegraph this morning.

Describing this as a complex problem which requires action right across government, Starmer says there is no silver bullet, "but we must enforce every possible measure to deter migrants from entering British waters".

"There is no doubt that for years, Left-wing parties, including my own, did shy away from people’s concerns around illegal immigration," he says as he confirms that the government will introduce digital ID to help address the issue.

A "new, free-of-charge, digital ID that will be mandatory for the right to work by the end of this Parliament", he writes.

He adds that Reform's "simple slogans" will not do anything to resolve the problem.

In his speech later today, he writes,, external he will reject the "quick-fix solutions from those who want to divide, not unite, the country", and will instead "do the hard work of restoring power to local communities".

• You will be able to watch Starmer's speech live at the top of this page from 11:00 BST.

Chris Mason
Political editor

The prime minister will address a conference of centre-left world leaders later and argue it is time to "look ourselves in the mirror and recognise where we've allowed our parties to shy away from people's concerns."

He'll talk about his plan for digital ID at the gathering, which will be attended by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

He hopes it is a practical example of how he can give definition to his premiership, have what he hopes is a useful tool in tackling illegal working and therefore illegal immigration, and give himself a useful political dividing line with his opponents.

Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party are opposed to the plan.

The Conservative position is more ambiguous. They see it for now at least as a "desperate gimmick" but do remain open to being persuaded it is a good idea.

Is it something he can lean into as a defining idea of his time in office and help him address the predicament he and his party find themselves in? He has to hope so.

• Read Chris's full analysis here

In a statement announcing the government's plans for the digital ID scheme, it says the initiative will "take the best aspects" of similar systems in other countries.

In Australia, where the government says people can access different private services

In Estonia, where digital IDs have "revolutionised parents' lives" by enabling access to their children's records, according to the government.

In Denmark, students use their digital ID to access education records and qualifications, the statement says.

And in India, digital IDs have saved "around US $10 billion annually" by minimising fraud and "leakages in welfare schemes" - the UK government says.

Image source, PA Media

The UK prime minister is expected to announce plans for a UK-wide digital ID scheme today.

The initiative, which would be mandatory for adults in the UK, would enable digital checks on people's right to live and work in the country.

Keir Starmer believes this could help tackle illegal working, saying digital ID is an "enormous opportunity" to "make our borders more secure".

But critics have already spoken out ahead of his announcement, accusing the government of trespassing on people's privacy and saying the scheme would be ineffective against illegal migration.

We'll bring you all the debate today, with our correspondents' analysis and, of course, the speech we expect from Starmer later.

Stay with us.