Unionists welcome Starmer climb down on Digital ID after 3 million signatures - concerns on privacy and liberty

It was touted as a means to tackle illegal immigration but provoked three million signatures of opposition – with major concerns on privacy and liberty.

The government has appeared to row back on its flagship policy of mandatory digital ID, suggesting it will no longer be required to prove someone has the right to work in the UK.

Announcing the policy last September, Sir Keir Starmer told a conference in London that “you will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID”.

But on Tuesday night, government officials said that details of what will actually be implemented will only be set out after a public consultation.

In October, thousands of people marched on Whitehall to show their opposition to the plans.

Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood said: “What was sold as a tough measure to tackle illegal working is now set to become yet another costly, ill-thought-out experiment abandoned at the first sign of pressure from Labour’s back benches.”

There is already a legal obligation on employers to check if someone they want to hire has the right to work in the UK.

North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett said the plan was initially sold on the premise of tackling illegal immigration yet would have had “no impact” on that whilst instead “undermining personal freedoms, creating new risks around data security and penalising law-abiding citizens”.

He added: “The strength of feeling right across the United against such compulsory measures was very clear to see and that was no different in Northern Ireland. Polling showed that nearly three quarters of the public here opposed the Government’s plans.”

Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann has welcomed the U-turn but called for clear assurances that any future digital identification system will remain voluntary and not become a requirement for accessing work or welfare.

“This is a significant victory for the hundreds of constituents in South Antrim and across Northern Ireland who contacted me to voice their opposition,” he said.

“This is also a testament to the nearly three million people across the country who signed the petition and made it clear that this proposal was a step too far.

“However, while these reports are a step in the right direction, we now await full clarity on what the government’s final decision will be.

“We need clear confirmation that any future digital identification will remain strictly voluntary and will not become a requirement to access work or social welfare. We can’t allow digital ID rollout via the back door.

“I have long shared the concerns raised regarding personal privacy and data security. While technology can be used to modernise public services, it must not threaten the rights and freedoms of citizens across the United Kingdom.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston also welcomed the climbdown.

“It is an implicit admission that this policy was being sold as a headline-grabber on immigration rather than a serious answer to the problem,” he said. “Public concern has been enormous.”

The Westminster petition opposing digital ID closed on January 9 and secured almost 3 million signatures, with North Antrim registering almost 4,900 – which Mr Gaston said was “a clear signal that local people did not want their personal data centralised into a single state-run system”.

He added: “TUV will continue to oppose any scheme of this nature and we will continue to press the government to focus on real action when it comes to illegal immigration – including crucially introducing a policy of immediate deportation for those with no right to be in our country.”