The UK government has significantly revised a central plank of its proposed digital identity scheme, stepping back from plans to make the cards compulsory for proving a person's right to work.
From Mandatory to Optional: A Key Policy Shift
When Prime Minister Keir Starmer first announced the ambition for a digital ID system by 2029 last September, he stated it would be voluntary with one major exception: it would be mandatory for individuals to use it to demonstrate their legal right to work in the UK. This element was pitched as a primary benefit, designed to tighten border security and crack down on illegal working.
However, ministers have now rolled back on this core requirement. Under the revised approach, people will be able to use other forms of identification for right-to-work checks, meaning the proposed digital ID will not be the obligatory method. Officials have described the change as a tweak rather than a U-turn, coming ahead of a full public consultation on how the system will function.
Political Fallout and Opposition Criticism
The adjustment has been seized upon by political opponents as another example of government indecision. The Conservative Party labelled it "yet another humiliating U-turn from the government". Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood criticised the move, suggesting a "tough measure to tackle illegal working" was becoming a "costly, ill-thought-out experiment" abandoned under pressure.
Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrats' Cabinet Office spokesperson, was more scathing, stating: "It was clear right from the start this was a proposal doomed to failure, that would have cost obscene amounts of taxpayers money to deliver absolutely nothing." She called for funds earmarked for the scheme to be redirected to the NHS and frontline policing.
The Path Forward: Digital Verification Remains
Despite the climbdown on mandatory cards, the government insists the fundamental principle of strengthening right-to-work checks remains. A government source indicated the shift does not alter the goal of making eligibility checks more robust, aligning with systems used in other nations.
The process will still involve digital verification, but this could be achieved using existing documents like a passport or e-visa, rather than a specific, compulsory ID card. A government spokesperson reiterated the commitment to mandatory digital right-to-work checks, with details to be set out after consultation. They emphasised that Digital ID aims to make public services more efficient while ensuring inclusivity.
This policy revision is viewed by many as the latest in a series of governmental adjustments, following recent changes to policies on business rates and inheritance tax for farmers. The full public consultation on the digital ID scheme is expected to launch shortly.
