Former British political party leaders Sir Tony Blair and Lord William Hague have championed digital identity cards as integral to the “technological revolution.”
During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Hague remarked on the rapid pace of innovation, stating, “we’re in the fastest period of innovation in the history of human civilization, and that looks like artificial intelligence, climate tech, and bio tech.” He emphasized that the UK must become a leader in these fields, leveraging its strong universities and business sectors, while acknowledging that other nations are advancing quickly.
He further argued that the UK needs to redesign its state systems to better integrate technology. The pair has co-authored a report titled ‘A New National Purpose: Innovation Can Power the Future of Britain’ for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. The report includes recommendations for establishing foundational AI infrastructure, incentivizing pensions consolidation, boosting growth equity, and enhancing public investment in research and development.
Among the proposed foundational AI infrastructure, the report suggests implementing privacy-preserving digital ID systems for citizens. Addressing public concerns about digital identities, Blair noted, “if you look at the biometric technology that allows you to do digital ID today, it can overcome many of these problems.”
This proposal follows the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee’s recent vote supporting a new digital ID framework and aligns with the UK Government’s focus on technology and innovation outlined in their Autumn Statement, aimed at positioning the UK as a burgeoning tech hub akin to Silicon Valley.
Colum Lyons, CEO of ID-Pal, remarked that while the growing support for digital IDs is encouraging, immediate issues such as Right to Work and Right to Rent checks must be addressed. He asserted the need for meaningful change that embraces the potential of digital solutions, emphasizing an inclusive and omnichannel approach.
Harry Weber-Brown, CEO of TISA Digital, welcomed the report for drawing attention to the benefits of Digital ID, highlighting the increasing consensus on the advantages of technology for businesses and the public. He pointed out the potential applications of digital ID in securing financial products and services, such as opening bank accounts or managing pensions.
Weber-Brown cautioned against opposition to ID cards—digital or otherwise—stating that such resistance should not impede programs aimed at improving consumer experiences and efficiency within financial services.
In closing, Blair stressed the importance of politics adapting to the technological revolution, warning, “Unless politics starts to ask the right questions about how to harness this technology, mitigate its risks and embrace opportunity, then we risk doing what actually happened in the 19th century, which is when the industrial revolution happened politics took decades to catch up with it.”