Keir Starmer has criticized the Conservatives for frequently changing ministers during their time in power, likening their numerous shifts to the flexibility of the Kama Sutra. The Prime Minister responded to this accusation during a lively PMQs session by referencing the ancient Hindu text on sex positions, love, and spirituality after facing criticism over a recent U-turn on digital ID by Kemi Badenoch.
Today, government officials confirmed the abandonment of plans to mandate digital ID for right-to-work checks in the UK. While emphasizing the commitment to digital right-to-work checks, they announced that digital documentation, including biometric passport chips, would now be accepted.
In response to Badenoch’s challenge regarding the U-turn, Starmer emphasized the importance of preventing illegal work in the country through mandatory digital checks. He also highlighted the government’s decisions on various issues such as planning, child poverty, employment rights, and NHS investment, contrasting them with the opposition’s stance.
The exchange continued with Badenoch welcoming the Prime Minister’s latest U-turn on digital ID, criticizing the policy’s initial introduction. Previously, Starmer had introduced plans for mandatory digital IDs to combat illegal working in the UK, stressing the necessity of addressing illegal immigration comprehensively.
Despite the initial plan for mandatory digital ID, the government has now made it optional, accepting other forms of digital documentation for right-to-work verification. Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed the government’s flexibility regarding the type of digital documentation accepted for this purpose during a BBC Breakfast interview.
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