Overview

• Technology Secretary Liz Kendall told MPs the digital ID would be required only for employer right‑to‑work checks, with no sanctions for individuals and no power for police to demand it.
• A public consultation will begin before the end of the year and the system would be built in‑house, with ministers citing lessons from Estonia and Denmark.
• An online petition opposing digital ID has reached roughly three million signatures, and a London protest organised by the Mass Non‑Compliance campaign is scheduled for October 18.
• Labour MPs including Nadia Whittome, Richard Burgon, Charlotte Nichols and Stella Creasy questioned civil‑liberties risks, effectiveness and costs, with Creasy citing estimates of £1–2 billion to set up and about £100 million a year to run; Kendall declined to give figures and pointed to potential savings and service improvements.
• Liberal Democrats and Conservatives intensified criticism, with Lib Dems branding the plan a costly 'white elephant' and highlighting £31.8 billion in troubled government IT projects, while the government said it aims to introduce digital ID by the end of this Parliament.