The government has reversed its stance on mandating digital ID registration for employment rights in the UK. From 2029, digital processes, such as biometric passports, will be employed for right to work checks, but enrollment in the digital ID scheme will be voluntary.
This is a significant departure from last year when the government first introduced the policy, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated, 'You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that.' Opposing the earlier policy, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented, 'Good riddance. It was a terrible policy anyway.'
She further noted that the Labour Party's decision illustrated 'another U-turn.' This change adds to a series of policy retractions by the government, including changes to welfare reforms, winter fuel payments, and inheritance taxes for farmers.
Originally advocated as a measure to curb illegal employment among immigrants, the mandatory digital ID was supposed to facilitate enforcement. However, the revised focus will instead relate to enhancing access to public services.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander clarified that the government remains 'absolutely committed' to implementing mandatory digital right to work checks through means such as biometric passports, asserting that this move will crack down on illegal working. 'The digital ID could be one way you prove eligibility to work,' she added, criticizing the current paper-based system for its lack of reliable record-keeping.
Former home secretary Lord David Blunkett, who supported ID cards previously, criticized the lack of explanation and strategy surrounding the policy, which led to public opposition mobilizing effectively. After Sir Keir's initial statement, public support for digital ID fell dramatically, as noted in polls; a parliamentary petition against the introduction of digital IDs attracted nearly three million signatures.
Some Labour MPs expressed concern over the compulsory nature of the initial proposal, and there has been widespread frustration within the party about repeated U-turns by the government. One Labour MP described the latest reversal as 'an absolute car crash,' criticizing the government's approach to policy implementation.
The Liberal Democrats labeled the policy 'doomed to failure' from the outset and argued that the funds reserved for the digital ID scheme should instead be allocated to the NHS and frontline police services.