The UK government has significantly softened its stance on a flagship digital identity policy, confirming that a mandatory digital ID will not be the sole method for proving the right to work.
A Shift in Policy on Digital Verification
Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated on Wednesday 14 January 2026 that the government is "relaxed" about the specific form of digital documentation people can use for employment checks. This marks a clear climbdown from the original proposal announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year, who had declared that people "will not be able to work in the United Kingdom" without a government digital ID.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Reeves sought to clarify the policy, stating: "We are saying that you will need mandatory digital ID to be able to work in the UK. Now the difference is whether that has to be one piece of ID, a digital ID card, or whether it could be an e-visa or an e-passport, and we’re pretty relaxed about what form that takes."
This adjustment leaves open the possibility that the dedicated digital ID programme could become entirely voluntary, with existing digital documents like e-passports potentially sufficing.
Part of a Pattern of Government Reversals
This move represents the latest in a series of policy U-turns by the Labour government. Officials have reversed course at least 11 times since taking office, including recent decisions on business rates relief for pubs and inheritance tax thresholds for farmers.
The shift on digital ID follows a notable collapse in public support for the scheme, which plummeted from 53% in June to just 31% in October after Sir Keir's initial announcement. The policy was originally framed as a tool to crack down on illegal immigration by making it harder to work in the UK illegally.
Opposition parties were quick to criticise the change. The Conservatives labelled the situation "shambolic," while Liberal Democrats spokeswoman Lisa Smart quipped that Downing Street must be "bulk ordering motion sickness tablets" to cope with the frequent changes in direction.
Focus Remains on Modernising the System
Despite the softened approach, the government insists its core aim remains modernising a flawed system. A government spokesman highlighted that the current "hodgepodge of paper-based systems" is open to fraud and abuse, lacking a reliable record of checks.
The Chancellor downplayed the significance of the change, emphasising the end goal. "I don’t think most people mind whether it is one piece of digital ID or a form of digital ID that can be verified. But the point is, we’re trying to address a problem," Ms Reeves stated.
Officials maintain that details of the scheme were always subject to a full public consultation, which is due to launch shortly. Think tanks like the Tony Blair Institute have noted that the real test for digital identity will be whether services are good enough that people choose to use them voluntarily.
