UK Digital ID Scheme Scrapped, But One Login and Wallets Continue
Ministers cancelled the national ID plan, yet officials confirmed that GOV.UK One Login and digital wallet infrastructure remain active.
Key points
- The UK government scrapped its national digital ID scheme, but One Login and digital wallets continue.
- Officials told MPs that over 80 types of credentials are still planned for the digital wallet system.
- DCMS permanent secretary Susannah Storey distinguished the scrapped national strategy from ongoing identity projects.
Ministers have scrapped the UK’s controversial national digital ID scheme, yet the underlying infrastructure remains active. According to The Register, officials told Members of Parliament on Monday that work continues on GOV.UK One Login, digital wallets, and a growing collection of digital credentials.
Despite the cancellation of the flagship policy, Whitehall is pursuing more than 80 types of documents for the government’s digital wallet. These planned credentials include proof of benefits, driving test certificates, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates, indicating that the digital identity ambitions persist beyond the scrapped card scheme.
Context and Background
The abandoned scheme was originally pitched by Keir Starmer as a compulsory digital ID card to crack down on illegal working. Privacy campaigners warned of surveillance and government overreach, leading ministers to make it voluntary before Andy Burnham decided to bin the entire project. The Register notes that while the national scheme is dead, the infrastructure appears to have been forgotten in the announcement.
Revelations about the continuing work emerged during a Public Accounts Committee hearing on Monday. MPs sought clarity on what exactly had been scrapped, with Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Green questioning whether the public sector’s digital ID infrastructure is still being pursued despite the official cancellation of the national strategy.
Susannah Storey, the DCMS permanent secretary, drew a line between the scrapped national scheme and other digital identity projects. She stated that One Login already allows people to prove who they are online, but emphasized that this service is not the same as a national digital identity strategy.
Who Is Affected
The primary impact falls on UK citizens using government services online. GOV.UK One Login continues to allow users to verify their identity for accessing public services, distinct from the cancelled national ID card. The planned inclusion of 80-plus credentials in the digital wallet affects users who may need to digitally prove benefits, driving qualifications, or DBS checks in the future.
Organizations relying on these verification methods will continue to use One Login for identity proofing. The distinction made by Storey suggests that while the broad national ID mandate is gone, the technical mechanisms for verifying identity online remain in place and are being expanded with new credential types.
What should you do?
Security professionals should monitor official government channels for updates on One Login and digital wallet rollouts. Users should verify that they are using legitimate GOV.UK services when proving identity online. Organizations should review their identity verification processes to ensure they align with the current, non-national digital ID framework. Watch for any changes in how credentials like DBS certificates are issued or verified digitally.
What to do and how to stay safe: GOV.UK One Login
- Monitor official government announcements for updates on GOV.UK One Login and digital wallet features.
- Verify that identity verification services are hosted on legitimate .gov.uk domains to avoid phishing.
- Review organizational identity verification policies to ensure they align with the current digital credential framework.
- Watch for changes in how specific credentials, such as DBS certificates, are issued or verified digitally.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Was the entire digital ID project cancelled?
No, the national digital ID scheme was scrapped, but GOV.UK One Login and digital wallet infrastructure continue to operate.
What credentials are still planned for the digital wallet?
More than 80 types, including proof of benefits, driving test certificates, and DBS certificates, are earmarked for the wallet.
Did the government confirm One Login is part of the scrapped scheme?
No, DCMS permanent secretary Susannah Storey stated One Login is not the same as the scrapped national digital identity strategy.
