The Government is reportedly preparing to water down its digital ID proposals, as Labour struggles to regain its popularity following a string of debacles and the rise of Reform UK
Sir Keir Starmer is set to address the nation as he faces accusations of being “spinelessness” over reported plans to dilute his digital ID proposals. This U-turn is the latest in a string of backtracks which has led to mounting criticism of the Prime Minister.
Starmer is set to address the nation at midday during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons. The Labour Government previously announced it would roll out a digital ID scheme that would remain optional in most circumstances but become compulsory for employment eligibility verification.
However, the proposals were thrown into disarray on Tuesday evening (January 13) when The Times revealed that ministers were retreating from the mandatory aspect, permitting alternative digital documentation for employment verification processes. A Government spokesperson maintained that ministers remained “committed to mandatory digital right-to-work checks”, but refused to confirm whether this would still necessitate digital ID.
Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood remarked: “While we welcome the scrapping of any mandatory identification, this is yet another humiliating U-turn from the Government.”
“What was sold as a tough measure to tackle illegal working is now set to become yet another costly, ill-thought-out experiment abandoned at the first sign of pressure from Labour’s backbenches.”
This latest U-turn marks the 13th for this Labour Government and follows comments made by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is rumoured to harbour leadership aspirations. Speaking at a conference yesterday, he suggested that ministers should strive to make correct decisions from the outset.
Addressing the Institute for Government conference in London, he stated: “In the NHS, we have an initiative called Girft – get it right first time. That should be our new year’s resolution for 2026 – let’s try and get it right first time. “A Government spokesperson responded: “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.”
Sir Keir initially unveiled plans to introduce digital ID on the eve of last year’s Labour Party conference, stating they would be compulsory for anyone working in the UK. The proposals were presented as a means of deterring illegal immigration by making it more difficult to work unlawfully in Britain. At the Global Progress Action Summit in London last September, he clarified: “Let me spell it out: you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.”
However, on Tuesday, Government officials maintained that it had always been the plan to reveal details of the digital ID scheme following a consultation. The Times cited a Government source who suggested that “stepping back from mandatory-use cases will deflate one of the main points of contention”. Support for the digital ID plummeted after Sir Keir’s announcement, dropping from 53% in June to a mere 31% in October. Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Lisa Smart quipped: “Number 10 must be bulk ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate to cope with all their U-turns.
“It was clear right from the start this was a proposal doomed to failure. That it would have cost obscene amounts of taxpayers’ money to deliver absolutely nothing”.
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