Everyone will need to sign up to Labour’s digital ID card scheme by 2029 – or risk losing their job. Those without ID could also risk losing access to the NHS, as the Home Office says the scheme will be used to “transform” public services. The announcement was slipped out today as part of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plan to slash immigration. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously said he plans to introduce a new national digital ID, likely to involve a mobile phone app, but few details have been released with the Government instead promising to launch a consultation before the end of the year.

However, today’s announcement makes it clear that digital ID will be mandatory for employees. The document published by the Home Office states: “By the end of this Parliament, a digital ID will be mandatory to prove the right to work in the UK. Alongside transforming public services, this will reduce the ability of illegal workers to use fraudulent documents to gain employment and prevent rogue employers from turning a blind eye to questionable documentation.”

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While the measure is presented as a way to stop firms employing immigrants with no right to work, it makes it clear that the digital ID will be used every time an employer needs to check whether any potential staff member has the legal right to work.

The reference to “by the end of this Parliament” means by the time of the next election, which will be 2029 at the latest.

A petition opposing the digital ID plan has now been backed by almost three million people. It states “We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards.” Currently 2,948,301 people have signed.

Other measures in the immigration plan include more raids on employers and tougher penalties for those hiring illegal workers. Right-to-work checks will be extended to gig economy, sub-contracted, and self-employed workers.

Also, the plan will give refugees an initial right to remain in the UK for only 30 months even if their claim for asylum is accepted, and they will not be eligible for indefinite settled status unless they are here for 20 years, although some may be able to switch to other types of visa.

And it highlights plans to move asylum seekers out of hotels into sites such as disused military bases – and suggests the Government is also looking at disused schools or industrial sites. The Home Office report said: “The government has already committed to exiting all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, with an ambition to do so as soon as possible before that date. This will see a move towards the use of large sites, including military sites, for asylum accommodation. Last month, the government announced that this would include the proposed use of Cameron Barracks and Crowborough Training Camp.

“Several European countries, including Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and Netherlands operate large scale sites for asylum accommodation. These include both purpose-built facilities and repurposed spaces such as schools, community centres, conference venues, hospitals, prisons, care homes, disused industrial sites, and former airports.”