Starmer appoints digital reform minister to lead digital ID rollout

Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Labour MP Josh Simons as the new minister for digital reform, who is tasked with leading the rollout of the government's digital ID scheme. As an acting Cabinet Office minister, Simons will oversee the expansion of the programme beyond its original focus on immigration enforcement. The move signals a strategic shift towards using digital IDs to transform public services, including welfare payments, childcare entitlements, and local government interactions.

The Financial Times reports that the appointment represents a victory for ministers arguing for a system that can be used for broader public sector reform as opposed to those who sought to limit the scheme to migration control. A forthcoming public consultation will frame the digital ID as a tool to simplify life for citizens.

However, while officials intend to clarify that the scheme will only be compulsory for right-to-work checks, some senior Labour figures suggest there is little backbench support for mandatory requirements, leading to speculation that ministers may eventually backtrack on these elements.

In a related article, the Daily Mail reports that a new poll reveals 47% of the public now opposes the proposed digital ID, while 38% support it.

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