On October 17, 2025, the United Kingdom took a decisive step into the digital future with the launch of optional digital ID cards for military veterans, a move that could shape the future of identification nationwide. Announced at a high-profile event at the Tower of London—where Beefeaters themselves proudly demonstrated the new technology—this digital veteran card is the first government-issued credential to be stored in the new One Login smartphone app, according to ITV News and Metro.
The rollout is part of a broader governmental vision to digitize nearly all forms of identification by 2027, including passports, driving licences, and even national insurance cards. While the digital veteran card is strictly optional, it’s hard to ignore its potential as a “case study” for the much more controversial mandatory digital ID system proposed for all workers in the UK. As Ian Murray, Minister for Digital Government, put it, “Using a closed group like the 300,000 veterans is a really good case study to show that it does work. And it will be very beneficial, it shows the technology works, that shows that we can prove and dispense with some of those legitimate concerns around privacy and security and those kinds of issues.” (ITV News)
But what does this digital card actually do for veterans? In practical terms, it offers a faster, more convenient way for ex-service members to prove their status and unlock a range of benefits. These include free and discounted travel on Transport for London, discounts at shops and restaurants under the Defence Privilege Card scheme, access to specialist support programmes run by Veterans UK, help finding affordable social housing through the Veterans’ Nomination Scheme, free career support from Operation ASCEND, and automatic access to a Blue Badge for parking if they receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (Metro).
The digital card doesn’t replace the physical version—veterans can still opt for the traditional card, which some prefer as a tangible reminder of their service. Garrath Williams, founder of Veterans Can, told the Daily Express that many veterans “like the idea that their Veteran ID card takes the spot where their military ID used to go.”
From a technological perspective, the system is designed with security and privacy in mind. Personal data for the veteran card remains with the Ministry of Defence, and verification is handled via the One Login app using technology akin to Apple or Google Wallet. The app checks that the user’s photo ID matches their face via the phone’s camera, and access is protected by phone security measures like face scan, fingerprint, or pin code. The government touts this “federated” approach as a safeguard against the creation of a single, vulnerable data vault (Sky News).
At the Tower of London launch, Veterans’ Minister Louise Sandher-Jones personally guided Beefeaters through the process of downloading their new cards. Despite a few minor hiccups with patchy internet, the event was largely a success, and the mood was upbeat. Ian Murray highlighted the convenience of the shift: “We all use our smartphones for everyday life. So it’s about making the relationship with the citizen easier and making their access to government services easier.” (Sky News)
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall echoed these sentiments, saying, “The digital veterans’ card will help remove barriers, reduce red-tape and make it easier for people to access the public services they need.” She stressed that this innovation is part of the government’s broader aim to “keep pace with the digital world we live in” (Metro).
Yet, not everyone is convinced. The rollout of the veteran card comes on the heels of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s September 2025 announcement of mandatory digital ID cards for anyone working in the UK—a policy aimed at cracking down on illegal employment. Starmer argued, “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly—rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.” (Metro)
Still, the specter of mandatory digital IDs has sparked significant public opposition. A petition against the introduction of digital IDs has amassed over 2.8 million signatures since October 2, 2025, with critics warning of “a step towards mass surveillance and digital control” (Metro). Concerns abound regarding civil liberties, data protection, and the potential for government overreach. Tory MP David Davis, a longtime critic of such measures, warned, “Digital ID gives the state the unchecked power to digitally strip citizens naked.” He added, “Starmer’s scheme will be even more risky as ransomware criminals, foreign states and other hackers will attack the strategic weak points in the OneLogin architecture” (Sky News).
Ian Murray has been keen to draw a clear line between the optional veteran card and the proposed mandatory system. He emphasized, “The launch of this card is about making the lives of veterans easier, to access government services and the benefits of that card, rather than being about demonstrating the much wider issues that you talk about… in terms of digital ID” (ITV News). He also clarified that the only mandatory use case currently planned is for right to work verification, which, he noted, “is mandatory already to be able to prove that you can work in the UK” (Metro). The government insists that people will not be required to carry their ID at all times or produce it on demand, and that the digital infrastructure is being built with privacy and user control at its core.
As the government prepares to digitize other documents—driving licences are next on the list—officials hope that the veteran card’s successful rollout will help build public trust. The Government Digital Service, part of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, is leading the charge, aiming to make tedious paper-based processes like house buying and passport control a thing of the past (Sky News).
For now, the digital veteran card stands as a symbol of both promise and controversy: a tool that may streamline access to vital services for those who have served, and a testbed for the next phase of Britain’s digital identity revolution. Whether it ultimately reassures a wary public or fuels further debate remains to be seen, but the conversation about how—and whether—to digitize identity is only just beginning.
