By bizn_fun 
In his BBC interview, Sir Keir set out what he said would be the advantages of digital ID, which will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents.
He said it would aim to make people’s lives easier by “cutting the faff” involved in providing multiple examples of identification for tasks such as applying to university, buying a house or renting.
All of these can sometimes involve having to pay third-party services for official verification.
Chris Norris, head of policy at the National Residential Landlords Association, told the BBC it would welcome anything that makes it easier to verify individuals who want to rent.
“Where it may prove useful is in standardising the type of ID available,” he said.
The PM also told the BBC, digital ID could reduce banking fraud because it would make it harder for criminals to access private accounts using forged or stolen physical documents.
There will be a public consultation about it in late 2025, but there has already been significant public opposition – alongside some confusion about what it actually is.
“Public opinion is largely split,” said technology specialist Rachel Coldicutt.
“There’s a group who will welcome this, who use the wallet app on their phone every day and want that seamless service, another group who openly don’t welcome it – and another group muddling through who don’t want any more admin.”
She said there was a “fairly thriving” market in the UK for independent digital ID providers, which she called “a local home-grown industry”.
“If the government expands its digital ID offering, it could kill off a growth industry,” she said.