Andy Burnham is expected to abandon Keir Starmer's digital ID card plans when he enters Downing Street on Monday, in what his team has described as a “reset of priorities”. The incoming Labour leader will redirect resources earmarked for the controversial scheme towards measures tackling the cost of living, according to officials.
The move is intended to distance the new prime minister from unpopular choices made by his predecessor, with a petition against the introduction of digital ID cards attracting 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.”
Starmer first proposed the scheme last September as part of efforts to combat illegal working, with a planned rollout by 2029. The so-called “Brit card” would have been compulsory for proving the right to work in the UK, containing the holder's residency status, name, date of birth, nationality and photograph. Starmer described it as “an enormous opportunity for the UK”, claiming it would make borders more secure.
The financial implications remain unclear, as no explicit budget was set. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the cost at approximately £1.8bn, a figure rejected by government officials. Earlier this year, ministers rolled back the plans, clarifying that the ID cards would be voluntary and that workers could use existing documents such as passports.
The scheme drew sharp criticism from civil liberties groups and opposition politicians. David Davis MP warned that “no system is immune to failure”, while the Liberal Democrats said they could not support “a mandatory digital ID where people are forced to turn over their private data”. Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group cautioned that Labour risked creating “a digital surveillance infrastructure”.
However, some Labour-aligned voices expressed support. Alexander Iosad of the Tony Blair Institute called a universal digital ID “one of the most important steps taken by this or any government”. Karen Bradley, the Conservative chair of the home affairs select committee, described the original announcement as “a fiasco” that “made little sense” to the public.
