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London: The UK no longer plans to make a new digital ID card mandatory to work in Britain, finance minister Rachel Reeves confirmed Wednesday
The climbdown follows an intense backlash to plans to introduce a free digital ID for both nationals and those residing in the country in a bid to curb illegal migration.
After officials briefed British media late Tuesday that the new ID would no longer be mandatory for employment, Reeves insisted the right to work would still become contingent on providing a form of digital verification.
"We are saying that you will need mandatory digital ID to be able to work in the UK," she told the BBC.
"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," Reeves added.
"We're pretty relaxed about what form that takes."
The mandatory digital ID policy, unveiled by Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer last September, had sparked fierce opposition from rival political parties and public concern.
Some criticism, including from far-right figures, promoted unproven claims that it will be used to boost government control over people's lives.
Starmer said in September that the ID card would be introduced by 2029 and while it would not be mandatory, it would be required to prove the right to work.
