UK backtracks on digital ID requirement for right to work

The UK government has backed down from making digital ID mandatory for proof of a right to work in the country, adding to confusion over the scheme's cost and purpose.

In September last year, the government said that from 2029, digital ID would be mandatory for proving a person's right to work in the UK, but voluntary in other cases.

At the time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that."

However, the scheme will now become less focused on immigration and put more emphasis on access to public services across the population, according to reports.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander told BBC Radio 4's Today program: "The digital ID could be one way in which you prove your eligibility to work through a digital right-to-work ...