Andy Burnham to scrap digital ID to focus on 'helping with cost of living'
Burnham’s team says the funds will be redirected to cost-of-living support, while the Office for Budget Responsibility put the scheme’s cost at £1.8 billion.
- On Monday, incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham will scrap Sir Keir Starmer's flagship digital ID programme, marking his first major policy departure as he assumes office at Number 10.
- Sir Keir introduced the digital ID initiative last year to tackle illegal immigration, with the Office for Budget Responsibility estimating the programme would cost £1.8 billion over three years.
- Shadow Technology Secretary Julia Lopez claimed Labour "wasted millions of pounds" on the project, while Jack Coulson of Big Brother Watch welcomed the decision as the public opposed mandatory ID.
- Burnham's team described the move as a "reset of priorities," redirecting funds toward "tangible" improvements to people's lives, including cost-of-living support.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Burnham's remarks as "airy-fairy stuff" and suggested he is "a people pleaser," while reports indicate he may also authorise North Sea drilling.
68 Articles
68 Articles
Unionist parties welcome Andy Burnham’s plan to scrap digital ID ahead of his first day in No 10
As Andy Burnham prepares for his first day as prime minister, unionist parties in Northern Ireland have hailed his decision to scrap the implementation of a digital ID programme.
Incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is scrapping the government's plans for a controversial digital identification system, a spokesperson for the new Labour Party leader reports. "All time and resources that would have been spent on a national identity system will now be deployed where they are most needed, such as lowering the cost of living," the spokesperson said.
U.K. PM drops digital ID scheme to prioritize cost of living: allies
Burnham’s office said one of his first moves would be to ditch a plan for all employees to hold a digital identity document, a scheme designed to tackle illegal migration but deemed a “fiasco” by a cross-party committee of lawmakers.
UK’s new Prime Minister scrapping Starmer’s digital ID scheme
Andy Burnham is set to scrap the hated digital ID scheme in a “reset of priorities” as he prepares to take over from Sir Keir Starmer. The uncontested Makerfield MP was crowned Labour’s newest leader yesterday as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the outcome as “hardly a nail-biter”. Now as he prepares to enter No10...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
