British people against government plans to introduce digital ID cards.

Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday to protest against government plans to introduce digital ID cards.

Under tight police supervision, demonstrators carried banners and chanted as they made their way from Marble Arch to Whitehall in the afternoon.

The protest followed the Prime Minister’s announcement in September that a nationwide digital ID system would be introduced in 2029. The IDs would be compulsory for anyone working in the UK, with the government arguing it is part of efforts to curb illegal migration.

Former MP Andrew Bridgen, who was expelled from the Conservative Party in 2023 after controversial remarks about Covid-19 vaccines, was seen leading the march. Some protesters displayed effigies of political figures, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Event organisers, Mass Non-Compliance, promoted the demonstration online, warning that “if you accept digital ID now, it may be the last real choice you ever make.”

Police instructed participants to remain on the planned route and keep to the left side of the road throughout the march.

Criticism of the digital ID proposal has come from across the political spectrum. Former Conservative minister Sir David Davis said such systems pose “serious risks” to privacy and personal freedom, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the proposal a “gimmick” that would not solve migration issues.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage also voiced strong opposition, and the Liberal Democrats stated they would reject any mandatory ID scheme requiring people to surrender private information to live their daily lives.