The government has announced that the Cabinet Office will take overall responsibility for the country’s new digital identity scheme. The change, effective immediately, is part of a broader ‘machinery of government’ reshuffle to streamline delivery of cross-departmental priorities.
Under the new structure, the Cabinet Office will oversee policy development, legislation, and strategic direction for the digital ID initiative. Meanwhile, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will manage the technical design, build, and implementation, working in close coordination with other government departments.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the initiative is designed to give citizens more control over their interactions with public services. “Digital ID will help modernise our public services and give people more control over their lives,” she said.
“It is only by working collaboratively that the government will be able to deliver this ground-breaking initiative.”
The Prime Minister has signalled digital ID as a top priority, with Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, appointed to coordinate policy across departments. Jones emphasised the need to bridge the gap between public services and private-sector convenience.
“For too long public services have fallen behind, while people’s banking, shopping, and restaurant reservations are increasingly done at a few touches of a button,” he said.
The government hopes that by combining the Cabinet Office’s cross-departmental coordination with DSIT’s technical expertise, the digital ID system will form a cornerstone of a more efficient, modernised state.
The upcoming Identity Week Europe 2026 (9-10 June 2026, Amsterdam) offers a powerful stage for linking the UK’s digital-identity reforms to broader international trends. With the UK’s move toward a cabinet-office led digital ID framework, the event becomes even more timely: it will bring together government, enterprise and tech players to align around secure credentials, biometrics, verification and trust ecosystems.
Whether you’re showcasing UK-led innovation or navigating European identity regulation, Identity Week Europe 2026 is a gateway to shaping the future of identity infrastructure.
