ID CARDS WON’T PROTECT OUR BORDERS, WARNS REES-MOGG

JACOB Rees-Mogg has said he does not believe digital ID cards will have any impact on stopping illegal migration.

Speaking on GB News, he said: “Labour MPs are calling for the introduction of digital identities in Britain. They claim it will help control migration and improve public services.

“This proposal raises serious questions about government overreach. The MPs in question argue that digital IDs would crack down on illegal migration: They’re wrong.

“What will stop illegal migration is protecting our borders and deterrents such as the Rwanda scheme.

“Digital IDs are a step towards a more intrusive state that has too much control over our private lives.

“It’s the introduction of ID cards through the back door, with illegal migration being used as the cover.

“Governments always want ID cards because they want to control the citizen and this is just a convenient excuse to bring back this old chestnut.

“It’s a complete change in the relationship between the individual and state. Currently, the state has no right to interfere with you going about your lawful business. As soon as you have identity cards, they have a right to stop you just to find out who you are. That’s why they’re dangerous.

“It’s a fundamental change around from the state being built from the bottom up to being a top-down state.

“If you employ somebody you have to check that they are legally allowed to work for you.

“Any legal employer has to check who you are, see your passport and check that you’ve got either a British passport or the right visa.

“The people who aren’t doing this are not suddenly going to do this when there’s an ID card. They’re still going to carry on employing people cheaply.”