Sir Keir Starmer has insisted there “will be checks” on the right to work in the UK, and “they will be digital, and they will be mandatory”, as he faced fire in the Commons over a U-turn on the Government’s flagship digital ID plans.
The Government appears poised to water down plans for a new mandatory digital identification system for right-to-work checks, aimed at cracking down on illegal working by migrants.
Ministers had also suggested digital ID could be used to provide access to Government services, including welfare and childcare.
On Wednesday morning, Chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted it would still be compulsory to provide ID to prove a right to work in the UK, but she signalled this would no longer be limited to the new digital ID scheme unveiled by the Prime Minister last September.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the “latest U-turn”, and described mandatory digital ID as a “rubbish policy”.
Responding, Sir Keir suggested the Government is still going to introduce checks to establish people are legally allowed to work in the UK, but did not say this would only be limited to his digital ID.
He told the Commons: “I’m determined to make it harder for people to work illegally in this country, and that’s why there will be checks, they will be digital, and they will be mandatory.”
Ms Reeves earlier told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning: “On the digital ID, for starters, I do think this story has been a bit overwritten.
“We are saying that you will need mandatory digital ID to be able to work in the UK.
“Now the difference is whether that has to be one piece of ID, a digital ID card, or whether it could be an e-visa or an e-passport, and we’re pretty relaxed about what form that takes.”
It is the latest in a series of U-turns by the Labour Government, including last week’s decision to provide additional support for pubs facing large hikes in business rates.
It has reversed course at least 11 times so far, including by raising the inheritance tax relief threshold for farmers after months of protest and scrapping a raft of benefits cuts under threat of a backbench revolt.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told a conference in London on Tuesday that ministers should aim to “get it right first time”.
Government officials have insisted they had “always been clear that details on the digital ID scheme will be set out following a full public consultation, which will launch shortly”.
The change leaves open the possibility the digital ID programme would be entirely voluntary.
