The UK government has scaled back a key part of its digital ID plans, meaning workers will no longer be required to use a digital ID to prove their right to work. Instead, they will be able to use other forms of identification, such as a passport.
The change, announced before a full consultation, effectively removes the only mandatory element of the scheme. When Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the proposal for digital IDs by 2029, he said they would be voluntary except for proving the right to work, which he described as a main benefit to secure borders.
A government source said the revision was not a U-turn but a tweak to avoid “conspiracy nonsense about state control.” The plan now allows people who want to use digital ID to do so, while avoiding the controversy of compulsion. Officials stressed that digital right-to-work checks will still be mandatory, but they can be done using existing documents like a passport or e-visa.
The opposition criticised the move. The Conservatives called it a “humiliating U-turn,” while the Liberal Democrats said the scheme was “doomed to failure” and urged the government to spend the earmarked billions on the NHS and policing instead.
A government spokesperson said the scheme would make everyday life easier and remain inclusive, with details to follow a public consultation. The change is the latest in a series of policy reversals, including on business rates and inheritance tax for farmers.
