Digital ID

Short answer: The Reel blends two separate UK projects. The first is GOV.UK Wallet, announced on January 21, 2025.

It's an optional app for storing government-issued documents on a phone, starting with the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card and with a digital driving licence planned. The government said every government-issued credential should be available digitally by the end of 2027, alongside the physical versions. Its technical documents say credentials are tied to the user's GOV.UK One Login account and device, can't be moved to another device, and can be revoked by the issuer. The second project is a national digital ID. On September 26, 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a free digital ID for citizens and legal residents. The government said it would be mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of the Parliament, to curb illegal working, and would make it easier to use public services. Critics including Big Brother Watch and a coalition of 13 NGOs warned of mission creep, surveillance, data-security risks and exclusion. A parliamentary petition against digital ID cards gathered more than 2.9 million signatures and was debated on December 8, 2025. In January 2026, the government dropped the plan to require the digital ID itself for right-to-work checks, saying other digital documents such as eVisas and e-passports could be used. It published a consultation in March 2026. In May 2026, the Home Affairs Committee called the original announcement 'rushed' and 'poorly thought through'. On July 21, 2026, the government cancelled the national digital ID programme; Reuters reported the decision as one of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first moves. In its September 2026 response to the committee, the government said GOV.UK One Login, GOV.UK Wallet and digital credentials such as the Veteran Card and driving licence will continue as separate projects. Employers must still carry out right-to-work checks, but won't be required to do them digitally.