Starmer Eyes India’s Digital ID System as Potential UK Model, Despite Public Concerns
The UK Labour leader, Keir Starmer, is exploring the feasibility of implementing a digital identification system similar to India’s Aadhaar scheme, praising the Indian system as a “massive success” during a two-day visit to Mumbai. The move comes as Starmer seeks to bolster support for a controversial proposal that has seen its popularity decline since its initial announcement.
Starmer’s trip included a meeting with Nandan Nilekani, the non-exec chair of the tech company Infosys, to discuss the rapid rollout and transformative impact of Aadhaar on India’s benefits system. He defended the introduction of a similar measure in the UK, envisioning a voluntary system initially used for applications related to schools, mortgages, and driving licenses.
India’s Aadhaar system, introduced over the past 15 years, has enrolled nearly all of its 1.4 billion citizens. It operates on a scale far exceeding the UK government’s current plans, collecting both biometric data and residential/contact information. While government sources emphasize they do not intend to directly copy the Indian model, they are keen to learn from its implementation, which currently processes approximately 80 million transactions daily.
The Indian system is credited with saving the Indian economy an estimated £11 billion in administration and corruption costs by streamlining processes and reducing reliance on paper documentation. Prior to Aadhaar, millions of births went unregistered, creating significant hurdles for citizens accessing essential benefits and proving their identity.
However, the rollout has not been without controversy. Critics point to initial shortcomings in data protection and the exclusion of vulnerable populations. Reports suggest some citizens have been denied medical care or benefits due to a lack of ID, while others have faced threats of account closures from banks and phone companies for non-compliance – though a supreme court ruling has restricted mandatory ID requirements for private services. Activists have also raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement of minority voters.
“It is useful to hear from the Indian experience,” a spokesperson for Starmer stated, acknowledging the differences in inception and system design. “It has a very different inception and a different system, but it is used 80m times a day.”
Despite the controversies, Starmer believes a digital ID system could address key challenges in the UK, particularly tackling illegal working. He has proposed making digital ID mandatory for employment, while positioning it as a convenient option for other services. “I don’t know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that, drives me to frustration,” Starmer remarked.
The Labour leader also suggested the success of the UK’s recent migrant returns agreement with France is linked to a stronger effort to combat illegal employment. He highlighted concerns about gig economy companies, such as UberEats and Deliveroo, where workers may be using false identities.
However, the proposal faces significant opposition. All opposition parties have voiced their disapproval, and concerns remain within the Labour party regarding potential cost overruns and data security breaches. Polling data indicates a sharp decline in public support for digital ID cards, falling from 35% in the early summer to -14% following Starmer’s announcement.
The tech company Palantir has also declined to participate, citing the lack of a mandate due to the scheme not being included in the Labour manifesto.
During his trip, Starmer also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and addressed a fintech conference. He announced that three new Bollywood blockbusters would be filmed in the UK, creating over 3,000 jobs, and that Indian investment in the UK is expected to generate approximately 7,000 jobs overall. He denied reports that business leaders had pressed for changes to visa rules, stating the focus was on leveraging the existing free trade agreement between the two countries.
