As government faces difficult questions about its controversial plans for a new national identity system, it is understood that senior representatives will be sent out to engage with the public
Ministers are expected to tour the country early next year as part of the government’s consultation on digital identity.
PublicTechnology’s sister publication PoliticsHome has learned that the government is keen to demonstrate that its effort to engage with the public on digital ID goes beyond a normal consultation, with the process viewed as a key opportunity to reset the messaging around the policy. This is set to include members of Keir Starmer’s government travelling the country to discuss the plan with voters.
Starmer first announced the policy ahead of Labour Party conference in September, saying that it could play a key part in modernising the state and tackling illegal immigration. Later messaging focused on how a digital ID scheme could benefit public services.
However, government figures admit that the initial bid to communicate the policy was flawed. In particular, there is an acceptance that the argument around how digital ID could help tackle illegal immigration by combatting illegal working was badly explained.
A More in Common survey published shortly after the policy launch found that net support for digital ID had fallen from 35% in June to -14% in the weekend after the announcement.
The initial announcement also faced misinformation. The BBC was forced to apologise after its comedy TV show Have I Got News For You aired the false claim that a company run by the son of former prime minister Tony Blair, Euan, had been awarded a government contract the produce the digital ID scheme.
Secretary of state for science, innovation and technology Liz Kendall told MPs in October that there had been “a lot of misinformation” and “scaremongering” spread about digital ID.
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In the same month, the information commissioner John Edwards warned a cross-party committee that the government’s digital ID scheme would not work without public trust.
It was revealed last month that the public consultation has been delayed until early 2026.
Government insiders blamed the delay on the handling of the agenda moving from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – which will still take the lead on delivering the technology – to the Cabinet Office, which will oversee programme delivery, as well as policy and legislation.
There is also an acknowledgement within government that creating a consultation that asks the right questions and provides the public with the best opportunity to help design digital ID would take time.
One of the key responsible ministers, Ian Murray, recently faced a somewhat testy grilling from a parliamentary committee, with MPs expressing incredulity at the current lack of detail on the likely costs of the initiative.
A version of this story originally appeared on PublicTechnology sister publication PoliticsHome
