Overview
- The Digital Access to Services Bill, confirmed in Wednesday’s King’s Speech, puts a national digital ID on the legislative agenda.
- Ministers say the ID will be optional and free, stored on a user’s phone with revocable credentials, and include a photo for biometric checks along with name, date of birth, and nationality or residency status.
- The government says digital IDs will help people prove identity for benefits, childcare and renting, and they will be used for right‑to‑work verification to deter illegal working.
- A consultation closed on May 5 and the People’s Panel runs until June 21, prompting complaints that ministers are moving faster than their own public input process.
- Opponents warn of mission creep and surveillance risk, citing tensions between a “voluntary” ID and planned digital right‑to‑work checks, while industry voices press for interoperability with private wallets and clarity on how this will sit alongside the existing One Login system.