The UK government has significantly scaled back a core element of its proposed digital identity scheme, confirming that the cards will not be mandatory for people to prove their right to work.
A Shift from Mandatory to Alternative Checks
When Prime Minister Keir Starmer first announced the plan for digital ID cards in September, he stated they would be largely voluntary, with one key exception: they would be compulsory for demonstrating a legal right to work in the UK. This was pitched as a major benefit to enhance border security and crack down on illegal working.
However, ministers have now rolled back on this central pillar. Officials clarified that while people will still need to verify their identity digitally for work checks, this process can be fulfilled using existing documents like a passport or e-visa, rather than a mandatory standalone digital ID card.
Government Insists It's a 'Tweak', Not a 'U-Turn'
A government spokesperson defended the move, stating: "We are committed to mandatory digital right to work checks. We have always been clear that details on the digital ID scheme will be set out following a full public consultation which will launch shortly." They described the change as a refinement ahead of detailed consultation, not a reversal.
Nevertheless, the opposition was quick to criticise. Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood labelled it "yet another humiliating U-turn from the government", arguing a tough measure on illegal work was being abandoned. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Smart called the original plan a costly proposal doomed to fail.
Political Context and Future Implications
This adjustment is seen as part of a series of recent policy recalibrations by the government on issues ranging from business rates to inheritance tax. The revised approach aims to maintain the goal of tougher, digital eligibility checks – bringing the UK in line with systems used in other countries – while avoiding the controversy of a de facto compulsory ID system for all workers.
The overarching digital ID scheme, aiming for launch by 2029, is still intended to proceed, with the government promising it will make public services more efficient. A full public consultation on how the system will function is expected to begin shortly.
