Overview
- Officials reaffirmed mandatory digital right‑to‑work checks but stopped short of requiring a single new digital ID, leaving room for e‑visas and e‑passports to qualify.
- Sir Keir Starmer told MPs the checks will be digital and mandatory, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government is relaxed about the specific digital format.
- Business secretary Peter Kyle said multiple forms of digital identification are being considered, citing biometric passports as an example, with further details to be set out near implementation.
- A full public consultation will launch shortly and primary legislation is needed, with several reports indicating an introduction timeline targeting 2029 and an initially optional digital ID.
- Opposition parties condemned the shift as a U‑turn, civil‑liberties concerns persisted, and polling cited in coverage showed support for digital ID dropped from 53% in June to 31% in October.