Blair Institute urges universal digital ID 'superapp' as UK flagship program

Britons should be given a digital ID 'superapp' that would let people do everything from proving their age in a pub to reporting potholes and claiming benefits, under a new report from Tony Blair’s think-tank. The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) says the system should become the universal method for verifying identity and would be used by everyone over 18 in the country, not only to prove eligibility to live or work but to streamline routine interactions with the state.

The proposal, published at 00:01 BST on Sept. 24, 2025 and updated at 00:14 BST the same day, describes a smartphone-based platform that would cover a wide range of daily tasks. The report suggests the app could verify age when buying a pint, report potholes, and help users access a child’s school reports, along with offering personalised health-prevention advice and enabling access to benefits. A key example envisions parents updating a newborn’s name and NHS number in the app as soon as birth is registered; the system would then check income and, if the threshold is met, display a notification that the family is pre-approved for child benefit.

A digital ID “superapp” should become the government’s flagship project – a symbol of tangible change and the Reimagined State in action, the report says. The document frames the app as a gateway to greater convenience and efficiency in public life, not a surveillance apparatus, and argues the digital identity would be the universal tool for verifying citizenship and access to services across government programs.

But the plan has drawn swift pushback from civil liberties advocates who say a nationwide digital ID would create a centralized database that could be a lucrative target for hackers and malicious actors. Rebecca Vincent, interim director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said the proposal reads like pressure to introduce a checkpoint Britain, especially as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to outline digital ID plans. “They’ve said the quiet part out loud, that it’s not only about tackling illegal immigration and that the Home Office is only the start, with pre-emptive plans for digital ID to creep into many aspects of our everyday lives,” she said. She joined with the leaders of Liberty, Unlock Democracy and six other rights groups in a letter to Starmer urging him to scrap mandatory digital ID.

The rights coalition warned that a centralized database linking government-held records and routines would be a goldmine for hackers and other bad actors, potentially exposing people to data breaches and large-scale surveillance. They argued that the security risks outweigh any claimed benefits and urged the prime minister to reject compulsory digital IDs.

Supporters of the concept, however, argue that a well-designed system could be more secure and privacy-preserving than today’s dispersed and siloed records. The TBI report contends that a citizen-controlled data model would improve transparency and reduce the chances of unauthorized access or catastrophic breaches, citing recent data incidents elsewhere as reasons to pursue a robust digital ID. The institute emphasizes that individuals would control their own data, with states and agencies accessing only what is necessary to deliver services.

Polling cited in the report suggests public backing for digital ID is rising. The study notes that 62% of Britons favor introducing digital ID, up from 54% the previous year, with only 19% opposed. Alexander Iosad, the TBI’s Director of Government Innovation, said the public’s support reflects a belief that digital ID would simplify government interactions. “The value is clear, the public’s backing is clear; the government must now deliver it,” Iosad said. “Digital ID will dramatically simplify your experience of government. It will mean that reporting issues, applying for benefits, sorting your tax code, or booking appointments, are all done in a few taps, or even automatically, not in hours, days, or weeks.” He framed the system as a cornerstone of a broader shift toward services that come to citizens when they need them, delivered with fairness, control and convenience.

A UK Government spokesman responded to the debate by saying the administration is committed to using technology to make interactions with the state easier and will consider serious proposals, including digital ID. “We will look at proposals that would help people access public services, including digital ID, and learn from other countries on how best to deliver this for citizens.”

The timing of the report is notable. It comes as Prime Minister Starmer is expected to announce an identity scheme aimed at addressing illegal immigration, with officials signaling that any national digital ID program could be framed as a central component of public service reform. Critics warn that making identity verification a universal requirement could turn the state into a gatekeeper for access to welfare, healthcare and other benefits, while proponents say a unified system would reduce friction and improve protection by centralizing verification with robust protections and user control.

The debate touches on broader questions about the use of technology and artificial intelligence in public administration. Proponents say digital IDs can lower barriers to services, speed up processes and improve targeting for benefits and public health campaigns. Opponents caution that extensive data collection, biometric or otherwise, increases risk if data security fails or if the system is misused for surveillance. Lawmakers and privacy advocates have urged clear safeguards, strict oversight, and robust opt-out mechanisms to protect civil liberties while pursuing efficiency gains.

Illustrating the tension between convenience and security, the discussion around the digital ID superapp has grown beyond its initial use cases. Supporters point to potential efficiencies in tax, benefits, and social services, as well as the prospect of real-time updates to a family’s status or eligibility. Critics emphasize the potential for function creep, data breaches, and loss of autonomy if consent and control over personal data are not prioritised and safeguarded by architecture, governance, and independent oversight.

The image below is provided to help illustrate the scale of the digital ID concept and the public interest surrounding its rollout.