LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Friday that digital ID will be mandatory for Britons to work in the country, as part of plans to tackle illegal migration.

"A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands," Starmer told the Global Progressive Action Conference in London, attended by politicians including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

"Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure," he said.

The new digital ID will be held on people's smart phones and will be mandatory as a means of proving right to work in Britain by the end of the parliament, expected to be 2029 at the latest, according to Downing Street. The consultation will last three months, with legislation being introduced to the British parliament early next year.

However, critics argue the new scheme would not stop people crossing the English Channel in small boats. Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said it will result in "more red tape" for employers and law-abiding people, while "illegal working will just go on."

Illegal migration is one of the hardest issues facing the British government, sparking a wave of protests across the country since summer this year. The right-wing Reform UK party has been leading in the opinion polls for several months. Starmer suggested facing the challenge of Reform would be a big focus at the Labour Party annual conference next week.

More than 30,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, according to data from the Home Office. ■