Overview

• Keir Starmer confirmed a nationwide digital ID that will be mandatory for proving the right to work, saying, “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID.”
• Employers and landlords would verify status against a central database via a phone‑held credential, with promised options for people without smartphones.
• The government says it will launch a consultation later this year and pursue primary legislation, aiming for rollout by 2029.
• Opposition parties and civil liberties groups object over privacy, security and exclusion risks, and a petition against compulsory digital ID has surpassed 1.5 million signatures.
• Supporters in Labour‑aligned think tanks cite international models and polling showing majority backing, and ministers argue the system could also streamline access to services such as licences, childcare, welfare and tax records.