London: The British government has diluted its proposal for mandatory digital identification cards following widespread criticism of the plan, which was originally promoted as a tool to curb illegal immigration.
The policy reversal marks another setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s embattled centre-left government, which is facing pressure both from opposition parties and within its own Labour ranks.
Officials confirmed on Wednesday that citizens and residents will no longer be required to present a digital ID card in order to secure employment, abandoning a key element of the proposal announced in September. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC that a digital ID could still be used as one option to prove eligibility to work, alongside existing documents such as biometric passports.
The government said that full details of any future digital ID system will be outlined only after a comprehensive public consultation, which is expected to begin shortly.
When unveiling the plan last year, Starmer had taken a firm stance, saying: “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that.” He argued that the measure would make it harder for undocumented migrants to find work and would simplify access to public services such as healthcare, welfare and childcare.
However, the announcement triggered an immediate public backlash, with opinion polls showing support for digital ID falling sharply after the policy was endorsed by the prime minister.
Compulsory identity cards have long been a sensitive issue in the UK. Britain has not required ordinary citizens to carry ID cards since shortly after World War II, and civil liberties groups argue that such systems threaten privacy and increase the risk of data misuse.
A similar attempt by former Prime Minister Tony Blair to introduce biometric ID cards in the 2000s—intended to combat terrorism and fraud—was ultimately scrapped after strong resistance from both the public and Parliament.
Opposition parties were quick to seize on the latest reversal. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said, “Labour’s only consistent policy is retreat,” while Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Lisa Smart mocked the government’s frequent changes of direction, saying Starmer’s office “must be bulk-ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate to cope with all their U-turns.”
