A Bold Confirmation from the PM
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, recently confirmed the mandatory introduction of a digital ID scheme for anyone seeking to work in the UK.
This plan, which was published on September 26, 2025, is a core part of the government’s Plan for Change and its strategy to tackle illegal migration.
Starmer clearly articulated his stance, emphasizing that the digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament.
He asserts that the scheme will make it tougher to work illegally in the country, thereby making borders more secure. The new scheme is being described by some as the “Brit card.”
Key Details of the Digital ID
It is important to note what this new digital ID will specifically include. The authoritative proof will encompass a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photo (as the basis for biometric security).
The digital ID will be held on people’s phones, operating just as the NHS App or contactless mobile payments already do. Consequently, there will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it for day-to-day use.
Nevertheless, it will be mandatory as the sole means of proving your Right to Work. The consultation will consider whether including additional information, like the address, would be helpful.
The system allows users to limit the amount of information shared to only what is necessary, such as proving age without revealing a full date of birth.
Combating Illegal Migration
The primary goal of the digital ID is to curb the prospect of work for illegal migrants. This will stop those who have no right to be here from finding work, thereby addressing a key “pull factor” for dangerous, illegal channel crossings.
Former Labour Home Secretary Lord Blunkett welcomed the decision, saying it would act as a deterrent to unauthorised entry. The new, streamlined digital system to check Right to Work will simplify the process, drive up compliance, crack down on forged documents, and create intelligence data on non-compliant businesses.
Hence, a clear message will be sent: if you come here illegally, you will not be able to work. This initiative builds on the government’s crackdown on illegal working, which has seen arrests soar by 50%.
Benefits for Legal Residents and Citizens
Furthermore, the scheme will also make it easier for the vast majority of people, all UK citizens and legal residents, to access the services they are entitled to. The digital ID will save time by ending the need for complicated, paper-based identity checks.
Subsequently, it will streamline access to vital government digital identity services such as driving licences, childcare, welfare, and tax records. This seamless access is being created by building on the work already underway to roll out a GOV.UK digital identity wallet.
The Tony Blair Institute also suggests the card could allow people to report local problems like potholes. In essence, a truly efficient system would clean data, link it up, and connect it in one sweeping overview.
The Unanswered Questions
The government will listen to a range of views on delivery as part of a public consultation to be launched later this year. Crucially, the government will ensure that the digital ID works for those who aren’t able to use a smartphone.
Therefore, inclusion is at the heart of its design, and an outreach programme with face-to-face support will be rolled out. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has stated her longstanding support for digital ID cards.
Conversely, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party would need to properly “scrutinise” the details before committing to a firm position.
Moreover, sceptics have raised concerns about what benefit the digital ID has over existing e-visas, and whether the scheme would lead to health workers being required to check the immigration status of patients.
Concerns for Civil Liberties and Privacy
Nevertheless, the proposal has been met with strong warnings from eight civil liberties groups, including Liberty and Big Brother Watch. These groups have warned that mandatory digital ID risks pushing “unauthorised migrants further into the shadows” and could be “uniquely harmful to privacy, equality and civil liberties.”
Moreover, they argue the scheme fundamentally misunderstands the “pull factors” of migration. Consequently, Big Brother Watch has gathered over 872,000 signatures on a petition calling on Sir Keir Starmer to reject the proposals.
Indeed, there is a concern that a single, central system would allow the government to track citizens in every part of their lives, raising the question of whether this level of enforcement is actually desired.
In Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill called the plan “ludicrous, ill-thought-out” and an “attack” on the Good Friday Agreement, which respects a dual identity.
Other critics, such as DUP MLA Peter Martin, suggest it may encourage the “black economy” through cash-in-hand jobs.
Security, Privacy, and Global Examples
The new plans will offer significant benefits for reducing identity theft and preserving privacy, with security at its core. State-of-the-art encryption and user authentication will be used to ensure data is held and accessed securely.
For example, digital credentials will be stored directly on people’s own devices, and if a phone is lost or stolen, the credentials can be immediately revoked and reissued.
Indeed, this design takes inspiration from successful digital identification systems around the world, such as those in Australia, Estonia, Denmark, and India. The EU Digital ID also provides a model, with its focus on user control and cross-border use.
Furthermore, the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) has developed the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework, a set of rules that certified digital identity companies must meet for reliability, security, and privacy. Companies like Yoti are already certified for services like digital Right to Work checks.
Public Questions and Expert Answers
Meanwhile, the BBC previously gathered public questions for a live session where BBC experts answered your questions on digital IDs, demonstrating the high public interest in the scheme. Polling from More in Common showed that more than 53 per cent of the public are broadly supportive of a universal digital identification system, suggesting growing acceptance.
Despite this support, an online petition created by Maxim Sutcliff, calling on the government to “Do not introduce Digital ID cards” on grounds of mass surveillance and digital control, has collected 1,016,136 signatures, and will be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Starmer’s Wider Vision and Rebuttals
Beyond the digital ID scheme, Starmer used his speech to declare that the political battle will now be against Reform UK and Nigel Farage, contrasting his idea of “patriotic renewal” with the “politics of predatory grievance.”
He also said the Tommy Robinson march sent shivers down the spines of many communities. He publicly declared that London is not a “wasteland”, rebutting critics.
The Challenge of Delivery
A major risk for the government is the politics, but the delivery. The civil service is not known for its tech expertise, and the task of building this system is considered immense, one that makes HS2 look easy. Consequently, questions are being raised about whether the project can be built on budget and without massive delays or technical glitches.
The government must show that the problem is the current system, and not how the new one is being used, especially following past issues like the Windrush scandal, where flawed or incomplete data had to be paused for four years.
The proposal is being pursued despite the costly and failed attempt to roll out compulsory ID cards under Sir Tony Blair in the 2000s.
Legal Foundation and Next Steps
The legal foundation for the use of trusted digital identity services has been strengthened with the Data (Use and Access) Act receiving Royal Assent on June 19, 2025. Subsequently, this Act creates a statutory basis for Digital Verification Services (DVS) and formalizes the pilot system already in operation.
Therefore, the government will now be able to maintain a statutory register of certified DVS providers, issue an official UK digital identity trust mark for security, and produce annual reports on the Act’s operation. Most of these measures are planned to be formally commenced later this year.
Conclusion
The UK’s planned mandatory digital ID card for work is a strategic move to curb illegal migration, leveraging existing digital identity standards and technology pioneered by digital identity companies like Yoti. However, this government digital identity faces significant political opposition and civil liberty concerns over potential mass surveillance.
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