Hello, and welcome to those who’ve joined our mailing list since the last Bulletin. As those of you who read our website or Substack will know, things have started to get busy!
What’s been going on?
The Government finally got round to writing things down and, after months of delays and a few set-backs, launched its consultation on the digital ID cards scheme.
The documents it published and the statements Ministers made try to reposition digital ID as “fixing the public services”, but as anyone can see – if they manage to plough through all 91 pages of the consultation document (including 12 pages of questions, many of which are designed to distract from or evade key issues) – they are trying to sell their vision of ‘government by app’, while saying as little as they can about the consequences and what that will mean in practice.
We published an instant response, and are putting out further commentary and analysis as we are able. (NO2ID is still operating on small donations; any help you can give is much appreciated.)
Meanwhile, and though it was for reasons other than the National Digital ID Programme itself, the first Cabinet Office ID Minister has been forced to resign. That Josh Simons’ fall was due to his actions while he led Labour Together, which (later) published the BritCard proposal – singing from the hymn sheet of the Blair government-in-exile, which spookily foreshadows Mr Starmer’s every shift on digital ID policy – is worthy of note.
And that his replacement, James Frith, has said he thinks New Labour “should have gone further and faster” doesn’t necessarily bode well…
What’s next?
Phil recorded a short message to explain What’s Going On and Why It Matters in 2026. It’s only three and a half minutes long, and we hope you will watch and share it with others who you think will care.
During the first phase of its consultation, the Government says it will be running a digital ID ‘roadshow’ – holding workshops and public events around the country over the next few weeks, until early May. Of course, as with the Home Office’s “charm offensive” on biometric ID cards in 2005, they aren’t actually publishing any details.
Some details have now emerged of the second phase, however – a series of seven ‘workshops’ being described as a “People’s Panel on Digital ID” – which will run from some time in May until June 21st. As the consultation document plainly states, “this group will not make decisions”. We would encourage any and all of the 100-120 participants who will be chosen by “sortition” to ask lots of pertinent questions, though!
What can you do?
The Government has published a bunch of ‘Campaign Resources’ for its ‘roadshow’, which may help you spot anything being organised in your area.
If you use social media, these “assets” (pictures, videos and text) may help you to identify those who are amplifying the Government’s messages. Please be polite, but do make sure to reply with a link to NO2ID’s blog or Substack, or – depending on where you find them – to our Twitter or Bluesky accounts, or our Facebook or LinkedIn Pages. (A Follow would also be much appreciated!)
Please keep your eyes peeled and let us know of any digital ID ‘roadshow’ events you discover happening near you.
These may be hosted by existing organisations or groups, and may not be very well or very clearly advertised – even though the intent behind them is to “amplify” the government’s Digital ID campaign. It’s possible a Minister might visit, or a Labour MP might speak at one. We simply don’t know.
If you spot an event, please let us know what you have found out by sending an email to coordinator@no2id.uk and, if you’re inclined, please attend the event and maybe ask some of the questions they still haven’t answered. You could even wear our new 2026 design T-shirt (Men’s / Women’s) or a button badge, if you choose to participate – all T-shirts are 25% off over Easter.
We’re working on our own set of campaign resources that will show up shortly – and then we’ll hold NO2ID’s 2026 launch event, where we can talk together about the Government’s slides and about the ones we’ve produced. We’ll see if a Minister is brave enough to come along too…
Many thanks for subscribing to our Bulletin. We’re grateful to those who have forwarded it to their family, friends and colleagues – and, as always, for all your support. We hope you have a peaceful Easter break.
Phil Booth
National Coordinator, NO2ID
3rd April 2026
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