Andy Burnham will scrap Keir Starmer's Digital ID programme once he becomes Prime Minister, redirecting the nearly £2 billion earmarked for the scheme toward everyday issues facing people across the country. The incoming government has vowed to shift away from an 'over-centralised model of government' and instead empower every community to succeed.
Burnham to become PM on Monday
Burnham will become Prime Minister on Monday after winning overwhelming support from Labour backbenchers to replace Sir Keir as leader. 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 resources that were 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. This government is determined to bring power back to communities, instead of hoarding it in Whitehall. We will work every day to lift this country back up to where it belongs – with growth in every postcode, and hope in every heart.'
Starmer's digital ID U-turn
Starmer proposed mandatory digital IDs in September last year and earmarked £1.8 billion across 2026/2027 and 2028/2029 for the scheme. After intense backlash and a heavily signed petition, the Prime Minister U-turned on making them mandatory earlier this year. Sceptics raised concerns about privacy, data breaches, and the potential erosion of civil liberties. Starmer and the King have both stated that the Digital ID rollout is not compulsory.
However, even without a legal mandate, critics argued that having a digital ID might become de facto necessary. Matthew Feeney from Big Brother Watch told Metro last year that the UK needed more than just assurances from the Prime Minister before introducing such a big change.
Global context of digital IDs
Countries such as Estonia, China, India, the United States, Costa Rica, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE, Canada, Japan, and Italy all have some form of digital ID for their citizens. The EU also announced plans last year to ensure citizens have access to a form of digital ID within the next decade.
