UK may drop mandatory digital IDs for workers, signalling another Starmer policy retreat
The proposal was unveiled in September last year by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said the government would require every employee to hold a digital ID as part of efforts to tackle illegal migration
- Jan 14, 2026,
- Updated Jan 14, 2026 9:53 AM IST
Britain’s plan to make digital identity documents mandatory for all workers is set to be dropped, according to reports by The Times, the BBC and other media on Tuesday, signalling what could be another policy reversal for the Labour government.
The proposal was unveiled in September last year by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said the government would require every employee to hold a digital ID as part of efforts to tackle illegal migration and blunt the rise of the populist Reform UK party.
Under the plan, the government stated that the digital ID would be stored on people’s mobile phones and would become a mandatory part of the checks employers must conduct when hiring staff. The idea, however, drew criticism from political opponents, some of whom argued it would do little to deter illegal migration, while others warned it could infringe on civil liberties.
The Times reported that the government had abandoned the mandatory element amid concerns it could undermine public trust in the scheme. According to the newspaper, when digital IDs are introduced in 2029, they will be optional rather than compulsory. Other forms of documentation, such as electronic visas or passports, would continue to be accepted.
A government spokesperson sought to underline that digital checks remain central to policy. “We are committed to mandatory digital right to work checks,” the spokesperson said. “We have always been clear that details on the digital ID scheme will be set out following a full public consultation, which will launch shortly.”
The spokesperson added that current right-to-work checks rely on a “hodgepodge” of paper-based systems, with no clear record of whether checks were ever carried out, leaving the process vulnerable to fraud and abuse.
If the move away from mandatory digital IDs is confirmed, it would mark another climbdown for Starmer’s government. In December, the administration scaled back plans to raise more taxes from farmers, months after it backed down on proposed cuts to welfare spending and diluted a plan to reduce energy bill subsidies for the elderly.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Britain’s plan to make digital identity documents mandatory for all workers is set to be dropped, according to reports by The Times, the BBC and other media on Tuesday, signalling what could be another policy reversal for the Labour government.
The proposal was unveiled in September last year by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said the government would require every employee to hold a digital ID as part of efforts to tackle illegal migration and blunt the rise of the populist Reform UK party.
Under the plan, the government stated that the digital ID would be stored on people’s mobile phones and would become a mandatory part of the checks employers must conduct when hiring staff. The idea, however, drew criticism from political opponents, some of whom argued it would do little to deter illegal migration, while others warned it could infringe on civil liberties.
The Times reported that the government had abandoned the mandatory element amid concerns it could undermine public trust in the scheme. According to the newspaper, when digital IDs are introduced in 2029, they will be optional rather than compulsory. Other forms of documentation, such as electronic visas or passports, would continue to be accepted.
A government spokesperson sought to underline that digital checks remain central to policy. “We are committed to mandatory digital right to work checks,” the spokesperson said. “We have always been clear that details on the digital ID scheme will be set out following a full public consultation, which will launch shortly.”
The spokesperson added that current right-to-work checks rely on a “hodgepodge” of paper-based systems, with no clear record of whether checks were ever carried out, leaving the process vulnerable to fraud and abuse.
If the move away from mandatory digital IDs is confirmed, it would mark another climbdown for Starmer’s government. In December, the administration scaled back plans to raise more taxes from farmers, months after it backed down on proposed cuts to welfare spending and diluted a plan to reduce energy bill subsidies for the elderly.
(With inputs from Reuters)