Compulsory Digital ID Scheme Dropped After Pressure From MPs

The Government has stepped back from plans for a compulsory digital identity card after months of pressure and public debate. The original idea linked digital ID to tougher checks on illegal working and wider access to state services.

A post on the Conservative Party website said Keir Starmer abandoned the proposal after sustained pressure. The party said the scheme would have placed a heavy burden on the public and said this was the fourth policy reversal in the first two weeks of 2026.

A letter shared by Rupert Lowe MP on X showed a group of MPs writing to the Prime Minister to oppose a UK wide digital identity scheme. On the tweet, Rupert Lowe MP captioned the letter with: “I want to thank every MP who put aside any political differences and signed my open letter to Starmer opposing Digital ID.

“A strong campaign in and out of Parliament has won.

“Mandatory Digital ID is dead.

“This is Parliament and politics at its best. We can win.”

The letter said compulsory digital ID would bring a new level of state control over citizens and change the relationship between people and government.

The letter also said digital ID could lay the groundwork for a surveillance state that would grow over time. The MPs asked for any proposal to go before Parliament for full scrutiny and a free vote.

They added that the British public do not want a compulsory digital ID scheme and do not need one. The letter said such a system would create a permanent change in the balance of power between government and governed.

The message ended with a pledge to oppose the policy at every stage.

What Replaces The Compulsory Digital ID Plan?

Birmingham Live reported that the Labour Government has changed direction on its mandatory digital identification plans. The scheme had aimed to crack down on illegal working.

Ministers said strict checks will stay in place. The method of verification will now allow more flexibility.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said right to work checks will stay digital and mandatory across the UK. He did not confirm that checks would rely on a single digital ID card announced last September.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government is relaxed about which documents people use to prove their legal status. This means digital visas and e passports may meet the new rules.

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch called the original proposal a rubbish policy and welcomed the change. Conservatives said it follows a long line of policy reversals.

Birmingham Live said the digital system had also aimed to make access to state services easier, including welfare and childcare. It is not clear how that will work if the ID scheme becomes voluntary.

Legal Expert Comments On The News

Anita Hodea, Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity lawyer at Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP said: “Having recently announced its plans for a digital ID scheme that would make it mandatory for proving the right to work in the UK, the government has today rolled back on the ‘mandatory’ aspect of the scheme. We can still, however, expect a scheme to be introduced with the intention of streamlining ‘Right to Work’ checks, tackle illegal employment and make public services more accessible.

“The scheme would record a person’s name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status and a photo, as the basis for biometric security, similar to an eVisa, and would be available to those who wish to voluntarily opt-in. Private sector employers and public services, like the NHS, would still be able to accept other forms of ID, such as passports and driving licences to verify someone’s identity.

“Ministers had emphasised that the scheme was designed to curb identity theft and safeguard privacy through minimal data sharing, encryption and authentication, but the proposal raised significant data protection and governance concerns. In particular, reservations around the creation of a centralised repository of biometric data, which could increase the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks, especially given the high-profile cyber incidents that occurred in the UK last year.

“There was also wide concern over potential “function creep” if the use of the digital ID scheme extended beyond its intended scope, as well as questions around the scheme’s software implementation and suitability of vendors.

“Ultimately, the success of any iteration of the digital ID scheme will depend on incorporating privacy by design, strong legal and operational safeguards and independent governance oversight from the outset.”