UK gov pays public £550 to discuss Digital ID – then bans journalists from the room
- Reference: 1777019407
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/04/24/digital_it_consult/
- Source link:
[1]
A protest march in London in opposition to Digital ID in December 2025. Image credit: Elena Rostunova / Shutterstock
Invitations have gone out to 36,000 UK addresses asking recipients to weigh in on the question: "How should we design a Digital ID system for the UK?" – a framing that, as worded, rather forecloses the answer "Don't bother."
Those selected will attend in-person workshops in central Birmingham from 9.30am to 5pm across the weekends of 30 to 31 May and 20 to 21 June, plus three weekday evening sessions on Zoom from 6-9pm, beginning Thursday 21 May. The letter, seen by The Register , does not include the address of the Birmingham venue.
Around 100 to 120 participants are being chosen from volunteers to represent a cross-section of the UK population. They'll hear from "engaging speakers, including experts and [the] minister in charge implementing this policy," then break into facilitated groups. The panel will ultimately produce recommendations for government ministers.
[2]Starmer's digital ID reboot raises same old questions as its Blair-era ancestor
[3]Whitehall can't cost digital ID until it decides how to build it
[4]UK digital ID brief quietly moves to new minister after resignation
[5]UK digital ID goes in-house, government swears it isn't an ID card
[6]UK backtracks on digital ID requirement for right to work
"You don't need to know anything about this topic to take part," writes chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones in the letter. "You just need to be willing to listen to the information presented, and share your honest opinions with us and the other people taking part. We want to hear from a wide range of people from across the UK, so if your household has received this letter then you are the right person to take part!"
The notes add that elected representatives, those working for political parties, the staff and close relatives of MPs, journalists, and those working for media organizations are barred from taking part.
Applicants will hear this week if they have been chosen. Those who then take part in all seven sessions will receive £550 in cash, vouchers or a combination of both, with the letter pointing out that "cash payments may affect your tax position or benefit entitlement."
[7]
The government will also pay for meals, flights or train tickets, hotel accommodation and childcare or other care costs.
[8]
The government has previously said it expects to spend around £630,000 on the [9]People's Panel , which is being run by the Sortition Foundation, a UK-based social enterprise, and pollster Ipsos.
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2026/04/24/shutterstock_2713766817.jpg
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/20/digital_id_consultation/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/11/digital_id_cost/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/04/new_digital_identity_minister/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/26/digital_id_costs/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/14/uk_digital_id_climbdown/
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aes_P5olzAl8M45eCfaGWQAAAQU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aes_P5olzAl8M45eCfaGWQAAAQU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/01/peoples_panel_digital_id/
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
On the face of it an utterly shameless exercise in cynicism.
I can't imagine Jim Hacker or sir Humphrey ever having the unmittigated gall to engage in an act of such overt political dishonesty.
At least parking a tank at each intersection has the virtue of being unmistakable in intent and forthright in its communication.
Quote "The government will also pay for meals, flights or train tickets, hotel accommodation and childcare or other care costs"
The government - past or present - isn't paying for anything. Taxation is.
Quote "Those who then take part in all seven sessions will receive £550 in cash, vouchers or a combination of both, with the letter pointing out that "cash payments may affect your tax position or benefit"
The government giveth, and the government taketh away with all due haste!
Moreover, if the overall consensus among the sample-set is a resounding "No Thanks!", will the government take that on board, or will they simply move the goalposts, reframe the question and ask another sample set of volunteers? Or better still will they simply ignore the response and do their own thing anyway?
It's easy to be cynical, but if this exercise in direct assembly becomes more widespread then perhaps the government will be less out of touch and in turn would be trusted more.
Fundamentals
From a fundamentals point of view, it is insecure.
Good security is something you have, something you know. This digital ID means something you know.
So it creates many problems, as what happens if you get hacked or someone steals your digital ID? You don't have a physical one that does the cryptographic signing, that would be an issue.
And you don't have the benefits of an actual card you can carry with you.
So less benefits, and more problems than an actual physical and digital id.
I'd tell them no for free, so hopefully this time I'll get paid for my trouble.