Overview
- The government has dropped plans to require the Prime Minister’s single digital ID for employment, while confirming right‑to‑work checks will be compulsory and digital.
- Keir Starmer told MPs checks will be “digital and mandatory”, and Rachel Reeves said e‑visas or e‑passports are likely to qualify as acceptable proof.
- A full public consultation will launch shortly, and primary legislation will be needed before any rollout that officials have discussed targeting around 2029.
- The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates a provisional cost of about £1.8bn over three years for the programme.
- Opposition parties condemned the change as a U‑turn as polling support fell and a petition drew millions of signatures, while civil‑liberty campaigners urged the government to scrap the scheme entirely.