# Digital ID (DD-667)

> 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.

- Department: Tech (also People)
- First published: 2025-10-27
- Last updated: 2025-10-27
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/digital-id/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Status as of Oct. 18, 2026

The national digital ID programme was cancelled on July 21, 2026. In its September 2026 response to the Home Affairs Committee, the government said GOV.UK One Login, GOV.UK Wallet and digital credentials (Veteran Card, driving licence) continue as separate projects. Employers must still do right-to-work checks, but they won't have to be digital.
Out of date in the Reel: 'The UK is rolling out a new digital ID system' (the national digital ID programme was cancelled on July 21, 2026)

## On the timeline

- **Jan. 21, 2025**: The government announces GOV.UK Wallet, starting with the Veteran Card
- **Sept. 26, 2025**: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a national digital ID, to be mandatory for right-to-work checks
- **Dec. 8, 2025**: Parliament debates the 'Do not introduce Digital ID cards' petition
- **January 2026**: The government drops the plan to require the digital ID itself for right-to-work checks
- **July 21, 2026**: The government cancels the national digital ID programme

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=digital-id

## Quick facts

- **DD-667-F01**: GOV.UK Wallet was announced on January 21, 2025. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (GOV.UK Wallet))_
- **DD-667-F02**: The national digital ID programme was cancelled on July 21, 2026. _(Write-up · Exhibit D (Scaled back, then cancelled))_

## Write-up

A UK digital ID, proposed then dropped. The national scheme was cancelled in July 2026. GOV.UK Wallet carries on.

1. **GOV.UK Wallet**: Announced in January 2025, the optional Wallet stores government documents on a phone, starting with the Veteran Card.
2. **The national digital ID**: In September 2025, the government said a free digital ID would be required for right-to-work checks, to curb illegal working and simplify services.
3. **The critics**: Rights groups warned of mission creep, surveillance and exclusion, and a petition against it passed 2.9 million signatures.
4. **Scaled back, then cancelled**: The mandatory element was dropped in January 2026, and the national programme was cancelled on July 21, 2026.
5. **What continues**: The government says One Login, GOV.UK Wallet and digital credentials continue as separate projects.

## Related case files

- [Data Centers (DD-029)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/data-centers/): Where digital services run
- [A Prison for Your Mind (DD-305)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/a-prison-for-your-mind/): I linked a real government technology project for contrast
- [Fresh Fiat (DD-622)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fresh-fiat/): I paired it with another government system people use every day

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'The UK is rolling out a new digital ID system... called the GOV.UK Wallet': these were two projects. GOV.UK Wallet is an optional app for government documents. The national digital ID announced in September 2025 was a separate plan, and it was cancelled on July 21, 2026.
- **Out of date**: the national digital ID programme was cancelled on July 21, 2026. GOV.UK Wallet, One Login and digital credentials such as the Veteran Card and driving licence continue, according to the government's September 2026 response.
- **Note**: 'Driving licenses and veteran cards': the Veteran Card was first. The digital driving licence was announced as coming next, so 'stores driving licences' was ahead of events when the Reel was posted.
- **Note**: 'Passports... to follow': the government said every government-issued credential should be available in the Wallet by the end of 2027, but its announcement didn't specifically name passports.
- **Note**: 'Keep data on users' devices and can be revoked remotely': the technical documents say credentials are tied to the user's account and device and can be revoked by the issuer. Critics' concerns about the national ID were about mission creep and surveillance, not the Wallet app itself.

## Video: Digital ID: A UK Digital ID, Proposed Then Dropped

- Duration: 24.1 s · Published: 2025-10-27
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DQTHRZ9jbjy.mp4

### Transcript

DID YOU KNOW? The UK is rolling out a new digital ID system that allows citizens to prove their identity through a secure government app called the GOV.UK Wallet, which stores verified credentials like driving licenses and veteran cards, with passports and other documents to follow. Designed to streamline access to public services and reduce fraud, the system uses encryption to keep data on users' devices and can be revoked remotely if a phone is lost. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: When was GOV.UK Wallet announced?**  
A: Starting with the Veteran Card. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (GOV.UK Wallet) · GOV.UK (Jan 21, 2025): Digital driving licence coming this year; GOV.UK Wallet technical documentation: Consuming and verifying credentials)_

**Q: Which document was the first in GOV.UK Wallet?**  
A: A digital driving licence was planned next. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (GOV.UK Wallet) · GOV.UK (Jan 21, 2025): Digital driving licence coming this year; GOV.UK Wallet technical documentation: Consuming and verifying credentials)_

**Q: What was the national digital ID first meant to be required for?**  
A: Announced on September 26, 2025. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The national digital ID) · GOV.UK (Sep 26, 2025): New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK)_

**Q: About how many people signed the petition against digital ID cards?**  
A: Debated on December 8, 2025. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (The critics) · Big Brother Watch and 12 other NGOs (Dec 2025): Joint briefing on the 'Do not introduce Digital ID cards' petition debate; UK Parliament Petitions: Do not introduce Digital ID cards)_

**Q: When was the national digital ID programme cancelled?**  
A: GOV.UK Wallet continues. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The national digital ID) · GOV.UK (Sep 26, 2025): New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK)_

## Sources

- [GOV.UK (Jan 21, 2025): Digital driving licence coming this year](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digital-driving-licence-coming-this-year)
- [GOV.UK Wallet technical documentation: Consuming and verifying credentials](https://docs.wallet.service.gov.uk/verify-credentials/)
- [GOV.UK (Sep 26, 2025): New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-digital-id-scheme-to-be-rolled-out-across-uk)
- [Big Brother Watch and 12 other NGOs (Dec 2025): Joint briefing on the 'Do not introduce Digital ID cards' petition debate](https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NGO-Joint-Digital-ID-Debate-Briefing.pdf)
- [UK Parliament Petitions: Do not introduce Digital ID cards](https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730194)
- [BBC News (Jan 13, 2026): Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3385zrrx73o)
- [Home Affairs Committee (Sep 18, 2026): Mandatory to manageable, the government's plans for digital ID: Government Response](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5902/cmselect/cmhaff/660/report.html)
- [House of Commons Library: Digital ID in the UK (CBP-10369)](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10369/)
- [THINK Digital Partners (Sep 8, 2026): One Login and GOV.UK Wallet push continues after digital ID cancellation](https://www.thinkdigitalpartners.com/news/2026/09/08/one-login-and-gov-uk-wallet-push-continues-after-digital-id-cancellation/)
- [Reuters (Jul 19, 2026): UK's Burnham drops digital ID scheme to prioritise cost of living, say allies](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/next-uk-prime-minister-andy-burnham-drops-digital-id-scheme-2026-07-18/)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Digital ID." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-667, last updated Oct 27, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/digital-id/