Overview

• Anyone starting a new job would need to show the digital ID, with several reports saying renters would also be required to present it for checks against a central database.
• Starmer is expected to outline the proposal in London on Friday, saying digital ID could play an important part in curbing illegal migration linked to the shadow economy.
• The plan will undergo public consultation and requires primary legislation before any rollout, marking a shift from earlier exploratory work into a formal policy push.
• Digital credentials are expected to sit in the GOV.UK Wallet app with non‑smartphone alternatives available, as officials draw on overseas models such as Estonia’s system.
• Civil liberties groups including Big Brother Watch and Liberty warn of privacy and exclusion risks and a petition has topped 100,000 signatures, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Labour‑aligned think tanks support the move.