UK Rolls Back Digital ID Plan for Work Checks Following Public Opposition

Britain’s government has abandoned its requirement for workers to register with a new digital ID system to prove their right to work, marking a significant retreat after public support collapsed and nearly three million people signed a petition opposing the scheme.

While digital right-to-work checks will still become mandatory by 2029, workers can now use alternative verification methods, including biometric passports and commercial apps, rather than enrolling in the government’s digital ID program, according to BBC.

The reversal follows months of mounting criticism since Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared in September that “you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer. | Source: The Nation

From Immigration Control to Public Services

Ministers are now repositioning digital ID as a convenience tool for accessing public services rather than primarily as an immigration enforcement measure.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized that the government remains “absolutely committed” to mandatory digital right-to-work checks, including biometric passports, but thatdigital ID will be optional for workers proving eligibility.

The shift addresses what officials described as concerns about “conspiracy nonsense about state control” while attempting to rebuild support for voluntary adoption.

Current right-to-work verification relies on employers checking paper documents with no central record-keeping, which the government argues enables fraud and illegal employment.

The reformed system will require digital verification against government databases, but workers can meet this requirement using existing documents rather than enrolling in the new ID program.

Commercial verification apps checked against Home Office data are also being explored as additional compliance methods.

Political Backlash Intensifies

Opposition parties seized on the policy retreat as evidence of governmental disarray.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it “another U-turn” and declared “good riddance” to what she termed a “terrible policy,” while Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Smart quipped that “No 10 must be bulk ordering motion sickness tablets at this rate.“

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed victory for “individual liberty against a ghastly, authoritarian government,” though his party had previously received £9 million in crypto donations, prompting separate Labour calls to ban digital currency political contributions.

The climbdown adds to mounting frustration among Labour MPs who had defended controversial policies only to see them reversed, with one parliamentarian calling the latest retreat “an absolute car crash” and complaining that leadership “marched the PLP up the hill only to bottle it.”

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who supported ID cards during his tenure, blamed poor strategic communication for allowing opposition to mobilize effectively against the proposal.

Civil liberties organizations, including Open Rights Group, warned throughout the debate about inevitable “mission creep” forcing expanded ID use across everyday life.

Their concerns drew from evidence of harms experienced by migrants already subject to digital verification through the eVisa system, where data errors and technical glitches have prevented people from proving residency status, leading to withdrawn job offers and housing denials.

The government maintains that the core reform remains intact despite removing mandatory registration.

A spokesperson insisted digital ID “will make everyday life easier for people” while delivering “more personal, joined-up, and effective” public services.

Details of how the system will function will be outlined in a public consultation launching shortly, with implementation still scheduled for 2029 using government-built platforms, including Gov.uk One Login and Gov.uk Wallet.

UK Crypto Regulation Advances Amid Digital ID Controversy

The digital ID reversal comes as Britain separately moves forward with comprehensive crypto regulation, bringing digital assets under Financial Conduct Authority supervision from 2027.

The government introduced legislation in December requiring crypto firms to secure formal authorization by September 2026, ending the current registration-only system that has allowed lighter-touch oversight.

The rules apply transparency standards similar to traditional finance, with final requirements expected by end-2026 following industry feedback periods.

Britain also formally recognized Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as legal property under new legislation, allowing digital assets to be owned, inherited, and recovered under property law protections.

The regulatory push follows data showing crypto ownership among UK adults dropped from 12% to 8% in 2025, though remaining holders have built larger portfolios concentrated in higher-value ranges.