A Machinery of Government written statement published in October 2025 split responsibility for the UK’s planned digital identity programme between the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, putting policy, legislation, and strategic oversight in the Cabinet Office while assigning DSIT the technical design, build, and delivery. That division has fuelled expectations that Labour MP Josh Simons will emerge as a political point-person as the government moves toward a public consultation on digital ID.
Multiple reports indicate Simons is expected to be appointed “minister for digital reform,” a role that would align with his current position as an acting parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office. Simons has also become a prominent defender of the government’s approach during parliamentary debate, including a Westminster Hall session on December 8 where he argued the scheme would be federated rather than centralized.
In remarks recorded in Hansard, Simons described the proposed system as built around legal firewalls and data minimisation safeguards, and stressed that the government does not intend to create a centralized identity database. He also framed digital identity as a public good and said the programme would not be outsourced wholesale to private companies, emphasizing engagement with civil society, businesses, trade unions, and community groups.
As consultation planning advances, the project is likely to reignite longstanding UK debates over inclusion, governance, and cost. Computer Weekly notes the political sensitivity of digital identity in the UK and cites figures as high as £1.8 billion over three years in political debate, though no formal budget has been confirmed.
Key design and policy questions remain open, including whether participation will be voluntary, how federated architecture will be implemented in practice, and how private-sector digital identity providers will fit into the ecosystem. Simons has previously confirmed the government is considering a physical alternative for digital inclusion and has stated that data will be hosted domestically.
Sources: Computer Weekly, Hansard, UK Parliament
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By the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
