UK government pivots its digital ID pitch to war on red tape

LONDON — The U.K. government published its long-awaited digital ID consultation Tuesday, claiming it will make public services “quicker, easier and more secure to access.”  

It marks a shift in tone from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial pitch last September, which framed the proposal as a way to curb illegal working and, by extension, unauthorized migration.  Now, digital ID is all about helping Brits interact with the state.

“People too often dread their interactions with public services. Endless telephone calls, complicated printed forms and having to tell their story multiple times to different parts of government,” Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said.  

“Supermarkets, banks and shops have all chosen to move their services online because it delivers a better customer experience, and other countries like Estonia fully digitized public services years ago. We need to catch up,” Jones said. 

The U.K. government has gradually pivoted in its approach to digital ID since Keir Starmer first announced it. In September, Starmer said: “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” but that’s no longer the case. In January, the Cabinet Office abandoned plans to make government-issued digital ID mandatory for proving Right to Work by 2029 amid public outcry and private sector lobbying.  

Workers will be able to choose between a government-issued credential, private sector offerings, and physical documents like passports, meaning the only aspect of the process necessarily “digital” is on the employer’s end.  

At the same time, the government wants to set out a much broader – and altogether more positive – vision for digital ID, based on the idea of “government by app,” per a Cabinet Office press release.  

Alongside the consultation process, the government will create a “People’s Panel” that “brings together people across the country from different backgrounds” to share their perspectives.  The consultation will run for 8 weeks, until May 5.