Keir Starmer revises mandatory digital ID plans amid backlash
SIR Keir Starmer is watering down his controversial mandatory digital ID plans following a fierce backlash, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister is understood to be dropping the requirement for all workers to carry a specific card on their phones. Instead, individuals will be able to present alternative forms of ID, such as e-visas or a passport, to prospective employers.
The government confirmed that digital right-to-work checks will still be enforced and it plans to release full details shortly. It asserted: “Digital ID will make everyday life easier for people, ensuring public services are more personal, joined-up, and effective, while also remaining inclusive.”
This significant retreat, first reported by Politics Home, is regarded as another Labour U-turn, following a series of policy reversals over the past 18 months in office.
When unveiling the original scheme in September last year, Starmer emphasized: “Let me spell it out, you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.” He claimed the initiative was designed to combat illegal working in Britain, but faced intense scrutiny, including criticism from within his party.
Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick stated: “This was always a terrible idea which wouldn’t have made any difference to tackling illegal migration. Starmer just lurches from one appalling misjudgment to the next.” Fellow Tory MP Mike Wood remarked on the scrapping of mandatory identification as a “humiliating U-turn” and criticized Starmer’s leadership style, suggesting that such changes are becoming routine rather than exceptions.
The initial proposal required that anyone starting work show a digital profile linked to a central database, allowing officials to check instantly if someone was entitled to be employed in the UK and to cross-match the data with tax records. Previously, workers were asked to present paper documents, which can be easily forged, raising concerns about compliance and enforcement.
The contested digital ID plans had generated considerable pushback, even among Labour’s ranks, with differing opinions becoming apparent. Yvette Cooper, now Foreign Secretary, was once cautious about the scheme when she served as Home Secretary, favouring e-visas to track migrant movements instead.
Ultimately, while the revised digital ID approach may soothe some immediate concerns within the party, it underscores a challenging period for Starmer’s leadership and his party’s governance strategy.
As political climates shift, the practicality of identification measures highlights the ongoing tension between security and civil liberties in the UK. Balancing these competing priorities will continue to test the Labour government as it strives to define its identity and efficacy.
