Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected claims that the government's decision to drop a mandatory digital ID requirement for proving the right to work represents another U-turn. The change, which allows alternative forms of identification such as e-passports or e-visas, was described by Downing Street as a technical tweak.
The reversal removes the only compulsory element of the controversial digital ID scheme, significantly reducing its impact. The plan had faced criticism from the Conservatives, with leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the government of having 'no sense of direction' during Prime Minister's Questions.
Starmer insisted that digital checks remain mandatory, stating: 'You will be checked. Those checks will be digital. And they will be mandatory.' He argued that the core objective—stopping illegal working—is unchanged.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves downplayed the shift, saying the government is 'pretty relaxed' about the form of digital ID used, as long as it is mandatory. Business Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed that by 2029, digital-only checks linking biometric data to identity will be in place.
The change follows a series of recent policy reversals, including on inheritance tax for farms and business rates for pubs, fueling accusations of chaos from the opposition.
