The UK digital ID plans are moving forward as the government launches a nationwide consultation and unveils a prototype system designed to allow citizens to access public services through their smartphones.
Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones is presenting the concept of what he describes as “government by app,” a model that would allow people to verify their identity and access services using a digital ID stored on their mobile devices.
The initiative is accompanied by an eight-week consultation aimed at gathering public feedback on how the system should operate and what safeguards should be included.
Officials say the UK digital ID plans could streamline interactions with government departments, reduce paperwork and make it easier for people to access public services online.
Government aims to modernise public services
Ministers say the digital identity programme is intended to modernise public administration and bring government services closer to the convenience offered by digital platforms in the private sector.
Jones said many citizens find dealing with public services frustrating, often involving multiple phone calls, paperwork and repeated identity checks.
“People too often dread their interactions with public services,” he said.
“Endless telephone calls, complicated printed forms and having to tell your story multiple times to different parts of government.”
According to the minister, digital ID technology could simplify these processes by allowing individuals to securely verify their identity through a mobile application.
Digital ID stored on smartphones
Under the UK digital ID plans, individuals would hold their identity credentials in a digital wallet on their smartphones.
The system is expected to operate through two government-developed platforms: Gov.uk One Login and Gov.uk Wallet.
Gov.uk One Login already functions as a unified account allowing users to access a range of government services online.
Officials say more than 12 million people have already registered for the platform.
The Gov.uk Wallet system, which has not yet been launched, is intended to store digital identity documents such as a user’s name, date of birth, nationality, residence status and a photo.
Citizens would need a Gov.uk One Login account in order to use the digital wallet.
Government abandons mandatory digital ID proposal
Earlier versions of the policy proposed making digital ID compulsory for individuals starting a new job in the UK, as a way to verify their legal right to work.
However, the government later reversed this proposal following polling that indicated the idea of mandatory digital ID had become unpopular with voters.
Opposition appeared particularly strong among supporters of Reform UK.
Instead, the government is now promoting the UK digital ID plans primarily as a voluntary tool designed to improve access to public services.
Nevertheless, digital ID will remain available for verifying identity during right-to-work checks.
Right-to-work checks still planned
Although the system will not be compulsory for all workers, digital identity verification will play a role in employment checks in the future.
The government plans to make digital right-to-work checks mandatory by the end of the current Parliament in 2029.
Employers and employees will still have alternative verification options, including checking physical documents such as passports or electronic visas.
Jones told MPs that the system will allow both digital and document-based identity checks.
Consultation to shape the digital ID system
The eight-week consultation launched by the government will examine key questions about how the UK digital ID plans should operate.
One initiative within the consultation is a “people’s panel,” which will bring together 100 individuals from across the country representing a range of backgrounds.
Participants will help evaluate several aspects of the proposed system, including:
•The minimum age for obtaining a digital ID
•The information that should be included within the digital wallet
•Which government services should accept digital identification
Officials say the consultation will be more extensive than typical policy consultations in order to gather broad public input.
Concerns about digital exclusion
A major issue being explored during the consultation is how to ensure that the system does not disadvantage people without access to digital technology.
Digital inclusion advocates warn that reliance on smartphone-based identification could create difficulties for those without reliable internet access or digital skills.
Jones insisted that the government will ensure the system remains accessible to everyone.
He said the government will support individuals who lack technology or traditional identification documents such as passports.
“We will not leave people behind,” he said.
Critics warn about privacy and surveillance
Despite the government’s efforts to emphasise convenience, the UK digital ID plans have faced criticism from several political parties and advocacy groups.
Opposition politicians have raised concerns about privacy, cost and the possibility that a voluntary digital ID system could gradually become unavoidable.
Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood criticised the proposal as an unnecessary expense.
“This consultation is another step towards a digital ID scheme that has become nothing more than a costly vanity project,” he said.
The Conservatives have said they oppose any move that would make digital ID mandatory.
Liberal Democrats highlight privacy concerns
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart also raised concerns about how personal data might be used.
She told MPs that any digital identity system must include strong privacy protections.
“People should not be forced to turn over their data simply to go about their daily lives,” she said.
Smart added that safeguards would be needed to prevent misuse or surveillance.
Reform UK warns against digital ID “through the back door”
Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice also criticised the proposal.
While he said the existing Gov.uk portal works well, he warned that it should not be used to introduce a digital identity card system indirectly.
Critics fear that a voluntary system could gradually become essential as more services begin requiring digital verification.
Experts highlight risks of digital exclusion
Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive of the Digital Poverty Alliance, warned that digital identity programmes in other countries have sometimes created barriers for people unable to access online services.
She said voluntary digital ID systems can quickly become essential once both public and private organisations begin relying on them.
“When this happens, offline alternatives can become slow, complex, or difficult to access,” she said.
This could effectively exclude individuals who cannot engage with digital systems.
In the UK, around 19 million adults are considered digitally excluded, meaning they may struggle to use online services.
UK identity card debate
The UK digital ID plans revive a longstanding debate about identity systems in Britain.
A previous Labour government introduced legislation for a national identity card scheme in the mid-2000s, which involved physical ID cards and a central database.
However, the policy was scrapped in 2010 after the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government argued it raised privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Unlike the earlier proposal, the new initiative is designed as a digital system that citizens can use voluntarily.
Cost of the scheme still unknown
One key question yet to be answered is the overall cost of the programme.
When asked about the financial implications, Jones told MPs that the government has not yet calculated the full cost of implementing the digital ID system.
He said updated figures would be published after the consultation process is completed.
The results of the consultation are expected to shape the final design and rollout of the UK digital ID plans, which could become a major component of future digital public services