The UK government has formally scrapped plans for a single national digital ID, but the underlying infrastructure is still being assembled. According to The Register, while ministers closed the door on the headline scheme, the One Login service, digital wallets, and more than 80 planned credentials remain in active development.
This means the government is effectively building the same identity ecosystem piece by piece, rather than under one banner. One Login already provides access to government services, and the planned credentials would cover a wide range of identity attributes, from qualifications to entitlements.
The distinction matters because the political optics of a national ID are toxic, but the practical components are less visible and have continued without the same scrutiny. The Register's reporting suggests the back door is open even as the front door is shut.