Cabinet discusses digital identity scheme following Pat McFadden’s interest in Estonia’s X-Road system, support from Labour backbenchers, and government work to establish digital wallet for documents, including driving licences
The government is looking at a compulsory digital identification scheme as part of moves to tackle illegal immigration, with reports suggesting it is considering practical issues, including use by older people and those without mobile phones.
The idea was discussed at a meeting of Cabinet focused on illegal immigration on 2 September, with the prime minister’s spokesperson saying this included “cracking down on pull factors and illegal working, including exploring options around digital ID, accelerating the closure of hotels and looking at better forms of accommodation”.
The government is already working to provide digital versions of physical identity documents including driving licences for a GOV.UK digital wallet.
Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, backed the idea of compulsory digital ID in a recent interview with the Times while visiting Estonia, saying: “I think there are applications of digital ID to the immigration system, to the benefit system, to a number of areas which can show that we are interested in proper validation of people’s identity, that the people who exercise rights are the people who are entitled to rights, and good value for money for the taxpayer.”
Estonia implemented a digital identity system more than two decades ago. It uses a decentralised system that links existing databases rather than merging them through an identity system called X-Road. McFadden told the Times that the UK could learn lessons on security from Estonia’s decentralised model.
The concept has been backed by a group of around 50 Labour backbenchers as a way to make government more efficient. The Tony Blair Institute has estimated that introducing a digital identity scheme would cost £1bn.
Under Tony Blair’s leadership, the Labour government passed legislation in 2006 for a compulsory biometric identity card system. The Home Office began implementing it, and in May 2009, stated that the cost for the next 10 years would be £4.95bn, which passport applicants would pay through increased charges. The scheme was scrapped by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government led by David Cameron in 2010.
