Overview

• Keir Starmer met Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani in Mumbai to learn from India’s rollout, with No 10 stressing the UK will consult publicly, build the system in the public sector and has no current plans to use biometrics.
• Downing Street reaffirmed that digital ID will be mandatory for right‑to‑work checks by 2029 but not required for people who are not working, a point clarified by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Full Fact.
• Starmer said he wants voluntary uses to make everyday tasks easier, citing potential applications for passports, school admissions, mortgages and access to services.
• Opposition has intensified, with a petition surpassing 2.8 million signatures and polling showing support dropping sharply, while Conservatives, Reform UK, Liberal Democrats and some Labour voices criticize the plan.
• Reports highlight HMRC interest and Tony Blair Institute suggestions that digital IDs could support tax administration, including pre‑populated returns and targeted compliance, with an estimated £600 million in additional revenue cited by the think tank.