The Labour leader is expected to scale back plans for digital ID after strong public opposition, with reports suggesting the scheme will be diluted when introduced in 2029
David Prince and Dave Burke
14:15, 15 Jan 2026
Kier Starmer and a mockup Brit Card(Image: )
Keir Starmer is anticipated to pare down plans for digital ID in the face of substantial public opposition, with indications that the scheme will be watered down when launched in 2029. The Times suggests that alternative digital documents such as e-passports and visas will be accepted as proof of work eligibility.
Public backlash forces rethink
This decision follows significant public resistance, including a petition endorsed by nearly three million individuals urging the Government to abandon the plans entirely. Within Whitehall, there's an increasing sentiment that the proposal to make the scheme obligatory became the primary source of opposition, overshadowing any potential advantages and stoking fears about exclusion, privacy, and access.
Digital ID not scrapped
Despite the backlash, ministers maintain that the policy isn't being scrapped. Government-issued digital ID cards, a key Starmer proposal, are now expected to be optional at first rather than mandatory.
A government source informed The Times that reducing compulsory use aims to alleviate public concerns, particularly fears that certain individuals, especially older or rural residents, could be barred from working simply because they haven't installed the digital ID. This approach is viewed as a means to balance the Government's goals with practicality and inclusivity as the consultation process progresses.
Political criticism
Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Lisa Smart ridiculed the U-turn, suggesting Number 10 must be "bulk ordering motion sickness tablets" to handle the repeated policy reversals. She branded the proposal as destined to fail from the outset and urged that the funds be reallocated to the NHS and frontline policing.
Government response
Downing Street stated it remains dedicated to implementing mandatory digital right to work checks and stressed that comprehensive details of the scheme will be outlined following a public consultation set to begin in the coming weeks. A government spokesperson indicated that digital ID aims to make public services more accessible and efficient, enhance coordination across departments, and ensure inclusivity for those who may face difficulties with digital technology.
Immigration justification
Starmer has previously maintained that the scheme would serve as a crucial instrument in combating illegal working, asserting it has been far too simple for individuals to enter the country, secure employment in the informal economy, and evade detection. He has continued to argue that connecting the right to work to a digital ID would eliminate those gaps, consistently maintaining that individuals without a digital ID would be unable to work in the UK.
Growing doubts
Growing doubts persist as critics question the value of the scheme. In November, MPs were informed that the policy had been so poorly managed it was now deemed "irrecoverable."
Silki Carlo, director of advocacy group Big Brother Watch, expressed her scepticism to the Home Affairs Select Committee about the true intentions behind mandatory digital ID in tackling illegal working.
She cautioned that the mishandling of the rollout could erode trust in the policy and potentially jeopardise its future prospects.
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