I have some serious questions about what the government is currently selling us under the banner of a “Digital ID“. Here are just a few that need answering:
- Why call it a “Digital ID”? Isn’t it just a unique reference number for every citizen? The data is digital by nature, so the term feels like marketing spin.
- What happens to existing IDs? Are we keeping NHS numbers, NI numbers, driving licences, passports? Some make sense (like passports), but others would just become redundant.
- Proof of address – still needed? Will people still need to show utility bills? And if you’re not the bill payer, then what?
- Data access – who gets it? A verification API will be needed for services to access this ID data. How will access be controlled? Will individuals have to pay to use it?
- What’s the real cost? Both upfront and ongoing – for the government and for us.
- Who gets the contract? Will this be open only to UK-based companies or handed out to usual favourites?
And finally, let’s be honest, the government’s promised “benefits” just don’t hold up:
- It won’t stop or reduce small boat crossings
- It won’t curb illegal working
- It won’t make us safer
- It won’t make life easier
- It won’t improve efficiency
- It won’t reduce service costs
Let’s be clear: the government’s push for a Digital ID has nothing to do with the reasons many are assuming, and the tech-based arguments often cited aren’t even the real drivers right now.
According to the government’s own statements, the main motive behind introducing a compulsory Digital ID is to deter and reduce illegal migration. The proposed use? A tool to prove legal status – essentially, whether someone has the right to be in the country. The hope is that this move will, in some small way, help pacify sections of society currently protesting outside asylum hotels.
Beyond the questions I’ve already raised earlier in this post, here are two more we should all be thinking about:
- Who is most likely to be asked to prove their legal status?
- Who will be given the authority to ask for it?
These questions matter, not just for policy, but for how this could affect people’s daily lives.
I am not against a unique citizen reference number – in fact, I think it makes sense. But the way this is being rolled out feels rushed, misleading, and, frankly, reeks of potential corruption. I am also very wary of anything Tony Blair (Caveat Emptor) is behind.
Transparency matters. Accountability matters.
PS: I already use the government’s GOV.UK One Login system.
The petition against Digital ID is growing rapidly – the British people, across the country, are united against the government’s current proposal.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730194
First dropped: | Last modified: October 01, 2025