MPs asked for ideas on digital ID as ministers try to win over sceptics

Ministers have launched a charm offensive to win over sceptical Labour MPs to the digital ID scheme, asking them to offer ideas about how it could improve public services.

- Jessica Elgot Aletha Adu Pippa Crerar

The outreach is part of a broader loyalty and delivery drive to soothe tensions after a fractious few months.

Several cabinet ministers have said the government needs to make the case for a wider digital system, telling the Guardian the aim was for the ID cards to be introduced before the next election and initially used to prove people’s right to work, before being expanded to store health and benefits data, streamline access to public services and tackle fraud.

Ministers have told MPs there is a firm commitment to building the digital ID within the public sector - and not contracting it out to private companies.

MPs who met ministers and officials on Tuesday were told it would be a federated system - akin to one built for the NHS - which means that data is distributed across multiple independent but connecting systems.