For any government, the true purpose of a Digital ID is to provide a unique identifier that enables the linking and analysis of various data structures. These include:
- Tax and pensions
- Immigration status
- Criminal record
- Healthcare
- Banking
- Land registry
- Council tax
- Border crossing
- Driving licence
- Passport
From a standard data modelling perspective, this is an obvious decision that should have been made years ago, as most countries have done.
Currently investigating an individual for any infringement is highly complex, costly and unproductive, whether it's fare evasion, stamp duty evasion or claiming disability benefits.
A unique identifier via a Digital ID has the potential to generate substantial tax revenue and reduce public spending by detecting fraudulent claims and evasion.
For Labour to justify a mandatory Digital ID will reduce illegal working, was clearly an attempt to appear tough in response to Reform.
Many people view it as an infringement of their liberty, for the vague argument that it will deter illegal working.
This will be yet another communications disaster that could have been avoided if the true rationale behind its implementation and the significant savings it could have brought had been explained.
This was probably the last opportunity this Government had to do something other than tax and spend, but it has the potential to be their ‘Poll Tax’ moment.