Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed plans for a new digital ID scheme aimed at tackling illegal working. He says people will not be able to work in the UK without one.

“Frankly, we’ve been squeamish about saying things that are clearly true… every nation needs to have control over its borders,” he said when announcing the move, interpreted as a move to fend off Reform and its populist leader Nigel Farage.

He added the immigration system needs to be “fair” to win the trust of the population.