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> Millions of people in the UK don’t have a passport or driving licence and there’s no magic document that lets everyone prove their identity.

That's why most(all?) EU countries have ID cards which are (usually? sometimes? probably depends on the country) mandatory. Especially the new EU standard version, which will of course take time to be deployed everywhere, is pretty great with a chip containing the biometric and other data allowing for automatic verification ( via an app or device at certain places, like airports).



In the U.K. there is substantial sentiment against mandatory ID


I'm not so sure about that, I wouldn't be surprised to see it come back. As far as I recall it was only the Liberal Democrats that opposed it in the 2000's.


In the UK identity cards are considered an intrusion on freedoms. Boris Johnson once wrote this which I think sums up that sentiment: "If I am ever asked on the streets of London, or in any other venue, public or private, to produce my ID card as evidence that I am who I say I am ... then I will take that card out of my wallet and physically eat it in the presence of whatever emanation of the state has demanded I produce it."


If people actually listened to what that empty vain populist said, the UK would be in big trouble. Imagine anyone lets him into any position of power! He'd just lie and change his public opinion on things daily. /s

How this man is anywhere near Downing Street is a complete mistery to me.


I’m a bit young to comment on this, but we did have identity cards for a while.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Cards_Act_2006


Not all EU countries, Ireland is in same boat as UK when it comes to digital services and government website login




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