From the linked article. A man in a Guido Fawkes mask holds up two placards marked ‘No to Digital ID’ with the text Britons will never need digital ID for NHS, says Starmer The prime minister plays down fears surrounding his plans with assurances it will never be mandatory but will ‘cut the faff’ of modern life new Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor Thursday October 23 2025, 8.00pm BST, The Times A protester in a Guy Fawkes mask holds up signs saying "NO TO DIGITAL ID" during a protest against government plans for digital IDs. Hundreds marched through London last weekend in a demonstration against plans for digital ID GUY CORBISHLEY/ALAMY Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that digital ID will never be a requirement of access to the NHS and would only ever be mandatory for checks on the right to work. Having pitched digital ID as a means of dealing with illegal immigration, the prime minister now seeks to sell the scheme as a way to “cut the faff”, by making people’s lives easier by speeding up identity checks and saving money on administration.

From the linked article. A man in a Guido Fawkes mask holds up two placards marked ‘No to Digital ID’ with the text Britons will never need digital ID for NHS, says Starmer The prime minister plays down fears surrounding his plans with assurances it will never be mandatory but will ‘cut the faff’ of modern life new Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor Thursday October 23 2025, 8.00pm BST, The Times A protester in a Guy Fawkes mask holds up signs saying "NO TO DIGITAL ID" during a protest against government plans for digital IDs. Hundreds marched through London last weekend in a demonstration against plans for digital ID GUY CORBISHLEY/ALAMY Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that digital ID will never be a requirement of access to the NHS and would only ever be mandatory for checks on the right to work. Having pitched digital ID as a means of dealing with illegal immigration, the prime minister now seeks to sell the scheme as a way to “cut the faff”, by making people’s lives easier by speeding up identity checks and saving money on administration.