United Kingdom

69.3 million people

The UK dropped its national digital ID scheme in July 2026 under the new Prime Minister, after a petition of nearly three million signatures; GOV.UK One Login continues. The Bank of England has not decided whether to proceed with a digital pound.

-1Sovereignty scoreRolling it outHow it adds up ↓

Digital IDAvailable, partial uptake Digital moneyIn development · Digital pound WHO rulesAccepted the 2024 rule changes Pandemic AgreementNo recorded objection Migration compactVoted yes Carbon priceTax and emissions trading

Digital ID · Goal 16.9

Digital ID in United Kingdom

Program: GOV.UK One Login; GOV.UK Wallet
Status: Available, partial uptake
National ID card: No national ID card
Biometrics: No

The government dropped the mandatory element in January 2026 after a petition of nearly three million signatures, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham scrapped the national scheme in July 2026. One Login and the Government Wallet remain part of the digital government plan, and DSIT is being closed with functions moved elsewhere.

Digital money · Goal 8.10

Central bank digital currency

Status: In development
Name: Digital pound

The design phase was due to end in 2026 with a joint Bank of England and Treasury decision on next steps. A launch would need primary legislation; the Bank has said it may not need a retail digital pound quickly.

Bank of England — Digital pound news ↗

On the record

What has happened, newest first

2026-07Pushback
The new Prime Minister scrapped the national digital ID scheme. Al Jazeera ↗
2026-01Pushback
The government dropped the mandatory element of digital ID after a petition of nearly three million signatures. Biometric Update ↗
2026Pushback
Incoming PM Andy Burnham scrapped the BritCard digital ID scheme, redirecting its £1.8bn budget. aljazeera.com ↗
2026Pushback
Government dropped the requirement that digital ID be compulsory for right-to-work checks. en.wikipedia.org ↗

UN and WHO

How United Kingdom has voted

WHO: Accepted the 2024 rule changes
Pandemic Agreement (May 2025): No recorded objection
Migration compact (Dec 2018): Voted yes
Paris climate deal: Party
SDG Index 2026: 82.5 · rank 8 of 169
Progress reports to the UN (VNRs): 1

Sovereignty score

How the -1 adds up

+1Scrapped or court-blocked a national digital ID (since 2015) source ↗
-1Building a CBDC (development stage) source ↗
-1Prices carbon nationally (tax or emissions trading) source ↗

Points come only from public, sourced actions we track, scored the same way for every country. It isn't a grade of a whole government. How scoring works →

People pushing back