"When Keir Starmer announced the proposal for digital IDs by 2029 they were billed as voluntary, with the exception that they would be mandatory for people to show they were legally allowed to work. This was portrayed by the prime minister as a main benefit of the plan. Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK, he said. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure."
"A government spokesperson said: We are committed to mandatory digital right to work checks. 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. Digital ID will make everyday life easier for people, ensuring public services are more personal, joined up, and effective, while also remaining inclusive."
Ministers removed the planned requirement that digital IDs be mandatory for working-age people to prove their right to work, allowing other forms of identification to be used. Digital ID verification will still be required digitally, but the process is unfinished and could rely on existing documents such as passports. Officials described the change as a tweak ahead of a full public consultation on scheme details. The previous plan had exempted most people from mandatory IDs but required them for right-to-work checks; the change reduces compulsory elements while officials maintain commitment to preventing illegal working. Opposition parties called the move a humiliating policy U-turn.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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