Compulsory ID cards will become a ‘tool of suppression’ for the state, Nigel Farage said yesterday.

The Reform UK leader said his party would oppose any attempt by Labour to introduce mandatory digital ID.

Downing Street revealed this week that ministers are looking at digital IDs as part of plans to clamp down on illegal working, in the hope it makes the UK less attractive to migrants thinking of entering the country illegally.

But Mr Farage warned it would have no impact on the crisis and insisted it could end up being used to curtail traditional British freedoms. He told the Daily Mail: ‘ID cards would make no difference to illegal immigration whatsoever.

‘Why would I trust these two parties in government after what they did with vaccine passports and much else?

‘I don’t trust them with it, I don’t trust the information – it would be used as another tool of suppression.’ Labour had ruled out ID cards as recently as July. But No 10 signalled a U-turn this week following pressure from French president Emmanuel Macron and former prime minister Sir Tony Blair.

Mr Macron has demanded the UK takes action to tackle the ‘pull factors’ drawing migrants to cross the Channel in return for help in dealing with the crisis.

Mr Farage’s opposition sets the scene for a major political clash over the issue.

The Tories are split, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp backing the idea but justice spokesman Robert Jenrick opposed. Kemi Badenoch has voiced scepticism.