Andy Burnham Pledges to Scrap UK Digital ID Scheme in First Major Policy Move

Incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to abandon the United Kingdom’s proposed national digital identity scheme, making it the first major policy decision of his administration as he prepares to take office on Monday.

A spokesperson for Burnham said the government would redirect the money and resources allocated to the digital ID programme toward measures aimed at easing the cost of living and addressing other priorities affecting households across the country.

The digital identity initiative was introduced under outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of plans to modernize public services and strengthen immigration enforcement through digital right to work verification. However, the proposal faced strong opposition from privacy advocates, civil liberties groups and political opponents, leading the government to scale back key elements of the plan earlier this year.

Burnham’s team said scrapping the programme represents a broader shift in government priorities, with greater emphasis on policies that deliver immediate economic relief rather than large scale national projects. Existing right to work checks will continue using current documentation, while planned immigration enforcement measures are expected to remain in place.

A cross party parliamentary committee previously described the digital ID programme as a policy failure, criticizing its development process and warning that the project had failed to win public confidence. Estimates by the Office for Budget Responsibility put the cost of the scheme at around £1.8 billion over three years.

The decision marks an early break from the policies of Burnham’s predecessor and signals the direction of his incoming administration. Burnham, who was elected Labour Party leader following Starmer’s resignation, is expected to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade when he formally assumes office.

Opposition politicians have criticized Labour for investing significant time and public funds in a programme that is now set to be abandoned, while supporters of Burnham argue that redirecting resources toward pressing economic challenges better reflects the priorities of British voters.