UK GOVERNMENT DROPS PLANS TO MAKE DIGITAL ID COMPULSORY TO PROVE RIGHT TO WORK
London, United Kingdom — The UK government has scrapped plans to require everyone to hold a digital identity (digital ID) in order to prove their right to work, in what media are describing as a policy U-turn by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour administration, the BBC understands.
What Has Changed?
Officials have abandoned the proposal that would have made a digital ID compulsory for all workers to show they are legally able to work in the UK.
Instead, workers will not be forced to hold a digital ID; traditional forms of documentation such as passports, electronic visas or other existing ID will still be accepted as proof of right to work.
The government has clarified that while right-to-work checks remain mandatory, they will not strictly require a government-issued digital ID to satisfy the requirement.
A Policy Reversal Amid Backlash
The plan, originally announced in September 2025, was part of a broader digital ID scheme, intended to modernise public services and tighten enforcement against illegal working.
It was to be a key requirement for employers — who would check digital IDs stored on people’s phones as part of hiring procedures — to reduce fraud and illegal employment.
However, the compulsory nature of the proposal drew sharp criticism from civil liberties advocates, opposition parties, and sections of the public, who warned it could undermine privacy, exclude vulnerable groups, and erode trust in government technology.
Government Position
A government spokesperson stressed that officials remain committed to strengthening right-to-work checks and modernising the system, but said details of the digital ID scheme will be revealed after a full public consultation.
The consultation is expected to explore how digital IDs could be used voluntarily or alongside existing documentation to improve security and streamline services.
Why It Matters
The reversal represents what many see as a significant policy shift for the Starmer government and is being viewed as part of wider efforts to balance innovation with public concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
Traditional right-to-work checks — typically involving passports or immigration documents — will continue to be valid, meaning the fundamental baseline for employment eligibility remains unchanged for now.
London, United Kingdom — The UK government has scrapped plans to require everyone to hold a digital identity (digital ID) in order to prove their right to work, in what media are describing as a policy U-turn by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour administration, the BBC understands.
What Has Changed?
Officials have abandoned the proposal that would have made a digital ID compulsory for all workers to show they are legally able to work in the UK.
Instead, workers will not be forced to hold a digital ID; traditional forms of documentation such as passports, electronic visas or other existing ID will still be accepted as proof of right to work.
The government has clarified that while right-to-work checks remain mandatory, they will not strictly require a government-issued digital ID to satisfy the requirement.
A Policy Reversal Amid Backlash
The plan, originally announced in September 2025, was part of a broader digital ID scheme, intended to modernise public services and tighten enforcement against illegal working.
It was to be a key requirement for employers — who would check digital IDs stored on people’s phones as part of hiring procedures — to reduce fraud and illegal employment.
However, the compulsory nature of the proposal drew sharp criticism from civil liberties advocates, opposition parties, and sections of the public, who warned it could undermine privacy, exclude vulnerable groups, and erode trust in government technology.
Government Position
A government spokesperson stressed that officials remain committed to strengthening right-to-work checks and modernising the system, but said details of the digital ID scheme will be revealed after a full public consultation.
The consultation is expected to explore how digital IDs could be used voluntarily or alongside existing documentation to improve security and streamline services.
Why It Matters
The reversal represents what many see as a significant policy shift for the Starmer government and is being viewed as part of wider efforts to balance innovation with public concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
Traditional right-to-work checks — typically involving passports or immigration documents — will continue to be valid, meaning the fundamental baseline for employment eligibility remains unchanged for now.
