UK government axes plans for mandatory digital ID

The UK’s digital identity industry has reacted positively after the government stepped back from plans that would have forced employers to use a national digital ID app when carrying out right-to-work checks. The change removes the mandatory “single route” that had been at the centre of the proposals.

This shift comes shortly after the Cabinet Office appointed MP Josh Simons as minister for digital government, giving him responsibility for digital identity policy. It also marks a clear move away from the most contentious part of the package first set out by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September last year.

When the scheme was announced, ministers framed it primarily as an immigration control measure, proposing that employers would be required to use a government app to confirm an individual’s right to work. That approach quickly drew criticism from civil liberties organisations and privacy advocates, and also unsettled parts of the technology sector. Many digital identity firms have spent years working through government-backed compliance and accreditation processes to be listed on official registers of approved verification services. Start-ups and investors warned that a compulsory government app could crowd out competition and hinder growth in the UK market.

Over the months that followed, the government’s messaging softened. Ministers increasingly described digital ID as a route to more streamlined, effective public services, rather than focusing on enforcement and undocumented immigration.

Public opposition also gathered pace. A petition calling for the online identity programme to be paused attracted more than three million signatures, triggering a parliamentary debate in which MPs from across the political spectrum raised concerns.

Ahead of a national consultation expected to begin shortly, the government has now confirmed it will not require a single government app as the default. Digital identity checks will still be compulsory for right-to-work processes, but people and employers will be able to choose how those checks are completed, with the government’s app positioned as one option among others.

A government spokesperson said the move supports the introduction of mandatory digital right-to-work checks, arguing that current arrangements rely on inconsistent paper-based methods and often lack an auditable record. They said this creates opportunities for fraud and exploitation. The spokesperson added that full details of the digital ID approach would be published following a public consultation due to launch soon, and that digital ID could make services easier to use, more joined-up and more effective, while remaining inclusive.

Industry figures said the removal of compulsion should help competition and innovation, and give citizens more control over how they use digital identity tools.

Richard Oliphant, an independent legal consultant and digital identity specialist, said the decision represented a “necessary reset” and urged the debate to move towards the practical and economic advantages of a voluntary system.

Robin Tombs, chief executive of Yoti—which says it has more than seven million users—said the earlier insistence on mandatory use had triggered significant resistance and risked undermining the credibility of the forthcoming consultation. He said the government now had a chance to have a more constructive discussion focused on widening access to public services for those who choose to use either a government product or certified private-sector alternatives.

David Crack, chair of the Association of Digital Verification Professionals, welcomed the announcement, saying it clears the way for a more useful conversation about what form of digital identity the UK should adopt and how individuals can gain greater control over their personal data.

Cost has also been a point of contention. The Office for Budget Responsibility had estimated the programme could cost £1.8bn over three years, although Emran Mian, permanent secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, told MPs in December that the government did not recognise that figure.

Concerns within the private sector led to a tense meeting in December between industry representatives and Darren Jones, the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary, who was asked to take overall responsibility for the policy. Jones sought to reassure attendees that decisions were not final and that the consultation would be used to determine the best approach.

Separately, questions have been raised about the technology foundations of the proposal, particularly its reliance on the One Login single sign-on service used to access a range of online public services. Computer Weekly last year reported a number of serious security and data protection issues linked to One Login.