What's happened
On January 13-14, 2026, the UK government announced it will no longer require mandatory digital ID cards to prove the right to work, reversing a key policy from last September. Instead, digital right to work checks will remain mandatory but can be verified via passports, e-visas, or digital IDs. The change follows widespread public opposition and political criticism.
What's behind the headline?
Policy Reversal Reflects Political and Practical Pressures
The UK government's retreat from mandatory digital ID cards for right to work checks reveals the tension between ambitious digital governance and public acceptance. While the government maintains that digital verification remains compulsory, allowing alternative forms such as e-passports and e-visas dilutes the original intent of a unified digital ID system.
Political Vulnerability and Public Backlash
This policy dilution is part of a broader pattern of U-turns by the Starmer administration, undermining perceptions of strategic coherence and leadership strength. Opposition parties have seized on these reversals to portray the government as directionless, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling it "no sense of direction whatsoever."
Civil Liberties and Inclusion Concerns
The mandatory digital ID faced criticism for potentially excluding vulnerable groups, such as older rural workers without smartphones. The government's decision to make digital ID optional but maintain mandatory digital right to work checks via multiple documents addresses some civil liberty concerns but complicates the system's uniformity.
Future Outlook
By 2029, digital right to work checks will be fully digital, linking biometric data to identity, but the exact form remains under consultation. The government must now balance technological innovation with public trust and political stability. Failure to articulate a clear narrative and strategic plan risks further opposition and policy paralysis.
Impact on Citizens
For workers, the change means flexibility in proving eligibility but continued digital verification. For employers, it signals ongoing shifts in compliance requirements. The broader public should watch for how this evolving policy affects privacy, security, and access to services.
What the papers say
Peter Walker of The Guardian reports that the government has "rolled back on a main element of the proposed digital ID plans," allowing other forms of ID such as passports or e-visas to prove the right to work, a move Downing Street calls a "technical tweak" rather than a U-turn. Walker highlights criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who described the government as "blowing around like a plastic bag in the wind."
Ben Quinn in The Guardian quotes Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying she is "pretty relaxed" about what form digital ID takes, emphasizing the government's focus on mandatory digital checks rather than a single ID card. Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett criticizes the lack of strategic planning, saying opponents "were able to mobilise public opinion" against the scheme.
The New York Times' Lynsey Chutel notes the dilution of the digital ID plan as part of a series of policy reversals since Starmer's 2024 election, with Reeves affirming the government's commitment to digital verification to combat illegal immigration.
The Scotsman details the public backlash, including a petition with over 3 million signatures, and quotes opposition figures like Reform UK's Nigel Farage calling the retreat a "victory for individual liberty." It also notes that digital right to work checks will still be mandatory by 2029 but registering for the digital ID program will be optional.
Reuters and Sky News confirm the shift away from mandatory digital ID cards, with government spokespeople stressing ongoing commitment to mandatory digital right to work checks and upcoming public consultations.
The Independent provides broader context on multiple government U-turns since 2024, including welfare and tax policies, illustrating a pattern of policy backtracking that has affected public confidence in the Starmer administration.
Together, these sources paint a picture of a government recalibrating its digital ID ambitions amid political, public, and practical challenges, with ongoing debates about civil liberties, enf
How we got here
In September 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer introduced a digital ID scheme, the 'BritCard', to combat illegal working by requiring mandatory digital ID verification for employment. The plan faced backlash over civil liberties and practicality, with nearly three million signing a petition against it. Since coming to power in 2024, the government has made several policy reversals, including on welfare and tax reforms.
Go deeper
- What led to the UK government dropping mandatory digital ID cards?
- How will the new digital right to work checks function without mandatory digital IDs?
- What are the political implications of these policy reversals for the Starmer government?
Common question
-
Why Did the UK Delay Its Digital ID Plans?
The UK government has recently scaled back its digital ID scheme, delaying mandatory use for employment checks until after 2029. This shift raises questions about the reasons behind the delay, the future of digital IDs in the UK, and what it means for privacy and civil liberties. Below, we explore the key questions surrounding this significant policy change and what it could mean for citizens and government initiatives alike.
-
Why Did the UK Government Roll Back Its Digital ID Plans?
The UK government initially announced plans to introduce a mandatory digital ID scheme for proof of right to work, aiming to improve security and streamline employment checks. However, recent policy reversals and public backlash have led to significant changes. Many are now wondering what prompted this shift, what alternatives are available, and what it means for digital identity security in the UK. Below, we explore the key questions surrounding this policy change and what it means for workers and citizens alike.
More on these topics
-
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
Rachel Jane Reeves is a British Labour Party politician serving as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office since 2020. She has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds West since 2010.
-
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (née Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024. Badenoch previously worked in the Cabinet for prime minister
-
A digital identity is information on an entity used by computer systems to represent an external agent. That agent may be a person, organization, application, or device. ISO/IEC 24760-1 defines identity as "set of attributes related to an entity".
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.