Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to officially axe the controversial national digital ID card project when he enters Downing Street on Monday, signaling a decisive break from his predecessor’s agenda.
In what his team is calling a “reset of priorities,” the new Labour leader plans to redirect the time, money, and resources earmarked for the multi-billion-pound tech initiative toward immediate cost-of-living relief.
The digital ID scheme, proposed last September by former PM Keir Starmer, was designed to combat illegal working and immigration. The proposed “Brit card” would have required holders to display their residency status, name, date of birth, nationality, and a photograph to prove their right to work in the UK, with a full rollout planned by 2029.
However, the initiative faced immense public and political backlash, culminating in a petition opposing the ID cards that gathered approximately 3 million signatures.
Burnham’s decision aims to firmly distance his new administration from the unpopular policies of Starmer’s tenure.
“One of the first things this government will do is put its focus where people need it right now: creating breathing space and delivering change they can feel in their everyday lives,” a spokesperson for Burnham said on Saturday. “That means all the time and resource that was going to be spent on a national ID scheme will go instead to where it’s most needed, such as helping with the cost of living.”
The spokesperson added that Burnham’s government is determined to “bring power back to communities, instead of hoarding it in Whitehall.”
While the exact savings from scrapping the project remain unclear due to a lack of a definitive budget under Starmer’s government, the Office for Budget Responsibility previously estimated the ID scheme could cost the taxpayer around £1.8 billion.
The move marks Burnham’s first major policy shift as he prepares to take the reins, setting a populist tone focused on localized growth and immediate economic relief over large-scale, centralized IT projects.
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