Government Abandons Mandatory Digital ID for UK Workers

Published: 14 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

The UK government has abandoned plans that would have required all workers to register for a digital ID to prove their right to work, officials have confirmed. By 2029, checks on employees’ eligibility to work in the UK will be conducted digitally, for instance using biometric passports, but registration with the government’s digital ID programme will now be optional.

The decision marks a significant policy shift from last year, when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that those without digital ID would be barred from working in the country. The move has drawn widespread attention as yet another example of a government U-turn, following reversals on welfare reforms, winter fuel payments, and inheritance tax policies for farmers.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the decision, describing the policy as “terrible” and branding the change a further U-turn by the Labour administration. The original proposal had aimed to tighten control over immigration by mandating that all workers verify their right to work via the digital ID system. However, the government now intends to highlight broader uses of digital ID, framing it as a tool for easier access to public services rather than primarily an immigration enforcement mechanism.

Darren Jones, the minister overseeing the rollout, addressed the policy during an Institute for Government conference, describing it as a step toward “the digital transformation of customer-facing public services.” He confirmed that a public consultation would be launched soon, adding that he expected support for the programme to improve over the coming year.

The plan had faced criticism from the moment it was announced in September last year. Almost three million people signed a parliamentary petition opposing compulsory digital ID, reflecting public concern over privacy and civil liberties. Some Labour MPs were also uneasy with the mandatory nature of the policy, while opposition parties, including the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, attacked the proposal for its cost and perceived overreach.

Lisa Smart, the Cabinet Office spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said the scheme was “doomed to failure” and suggested that the billions set aside for its implementation would be better spent on the NHS and frontline policing. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the decision on social media, describing it as a “victory for individual liberty against a ghastly, authoritarian government,” while Green Party leader Zack Polanski called the U-turn “good news” for the public.

Despite the policy reversal, the government has maintained that digital right-to-work checks will continue. Currently, right-to-work verifications are conducted using a mix of paper-based systems, which officials admit are prone to fraud and errors. A digital system, they argue, will make everyday interactions with public services more efficient, connected, and inclusive.

Employers in the UK already have a legal obligation to ensure that new hires are entitled to work. Since 2022, passport-holding British and Irish citizens have been able to complete checks digitally through government-certified verification services. In addition, a Home Office online platform enables digital verification of some non-British or Irish citizens whose immigration status is held electronically.

Details of the new digital ID system remain under development, though it is expected to integrate two government platforms: Gov.uk One Login and Gov.uk Wallet. More than 12 million users are already registered with One Login, which allows citizens to access services such as managing a lasting power of attorney, cancelling a lost passport, or applying for a veteran card. Gov.uk Wallet, still awaiting launch, will store users’ digital IDs on smartphones, providing a portable, secure way to verify identity. The ID itself would include essential information such as the holder’s name, date of birth, nationality, residence status, and a photograph.

The government’s decision to make registration voluntary reflects a broader trend in balancing digital innovation with privacy concerns. Experts have suggested that optional digital ID could improve public uptake while avoiding potential backlash over mandatory participation. It also represents a more flexible approach, acknowledging the challenges of implementing a nationwide ID system in a country where a significant portion of the population is wary of surveillance and data misuse.

The U-turn is likely to influence how digital identity programmes are developed and perceived in the UK in the coming years. While digital verification of work status will remain mandatory, citizens and employers can now engage with the system voluntarily, providing a bridge between efficiency, security, and individual choice. Government officials continue to stress that the overarching aim is to simplify access to public services while safeguarding personal information.