Andy Burnham is expected to abandon Keir Starmer's proposed digital ID card scheme upon becoming prime minister, in what his team has described as a “reset of priorities”. The incoming Labour leader intends to redirect resources earmarked for the controversial project towards addressing the cost of living, according to officials on Saturday.
The move follows widespread opposition to the plan, including a petition that attracted around 3 million signatures. A spokesperson for Burnham said: “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. 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.”
The digital ID scheme, first announced last September, was intended to combat illegal working and was due to be rolled out by 2029. It would have been compulsory for individuals needing to prove their right to work in the UK, with cards containing residency status, name, date of birth, nationality and a photograph. Starmer had described the initiative as “an enormous opportunity for the UK” and argued it would make borders more secure.
The exact financial savings from scrapping the scheme remain unclear, as no definitive budget was published. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the cost at approximately £1.8bn, but officials rejected that figure. The plan had drawn criticism from opposition politicians and civil rights groups, including Conservative MP David Davis, who questioned the security of personal data, and Liberal Democrats, who objected to mandatory data sharing.
Earlier this year, the government had already softened its stance, clarifying that the cards would be voluntary and that workers could use existing documents such as passports. Karen Bradley, Conservative chair of the home affairs select committee, called the original announcement “a fiasco” that “made little sense” to the public. The decision to shelve the scheme entirely marks a notable shift in priorities for the new administration.
