Keir Starmer faced a furious backlash on Thursday over 'dystopian' plans to force millions of adults to sign up for a digital ID card.
Government sources said the Prime Minister will use a speech on Friday to claim the controversial plan could help stop the boats after his failed attempt to 'smash the gangs' led to a surge in crossings.
Civil liberties groups on Thursday branded the introduction of a 'papers please' society 'un-British' - and warned that older and vulnerable people could be 'locked out' from essential services.
And critics warned the proposal, pushed by Tony Blair and Emmanuel Macron, would do nothing to halt the surge in illegal migration.
Experts have warned the scheme will cost billions of pounds to develop - and could leave the personal details of millions of people vulnerable to hackers and state-sponsored cyber attacks.
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