Andy Burnham to scrap digital ID to focus on cost of living in first major policy pledge

Andy Burnham terminates Keir Starmer’s £2bn digital ID scheme

Policy Shift and Resource Reallocation

The decision to abandon the digital ID project is central to the incoming government’s goal of distancing the new prime minister from unpopular choices made by his predecessor. While the exact savings from the decision remain unclear—as Starmer’s government did not set out a clear budget for the initiative—the Office for Budget Responsibility previously suggested the project could cost about £1.8bn, though that estimate was rejected by officials. Other reports have cited the plan as a £2bn project.

Burnham’s spokesperson emphasized a shift in focus toward local community empowerment rather than centralized oversight. 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, the spokesperson stated. 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, 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. The

Labour MPs and the Tony Blair Institute clash over ID card opposition

Opposition and Internal Dissent

The digital ID policy had been strongly opposed by many Labour MPs who viewed it as a waste of money, an assault on individual liberty, and an echo of what former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown attempted to introduce previously. A petition opposing the introduction of the digital ID cards when they were announced last year attracted about 3 million signatures.

Sir Keir, who claimed the cards were essential for preventing illegal working, had already been forced to perform a U-turn on plans to make the scheme compulsory due to internal opposition. Now, the entire project is set to be scrapped. The Tony Blair Institute, established by the former prime minister after his departure from frontline politics, had been one of several Labour-aligned thinktanks to welcome the original proposals put forward by Starmer.

Andy Burnham restores Karl Turner and reverses jury trial reforms

Continued Focus on Border Security and Governance

Despite the cancellation of the ID cards, a source noted that Mr. Burnham is clear the UK will continue to crack down on illegal working. The new government stated it will continue to build on the progress made by the previous government in tackling illegal employment. Starmer had originally announced the plans last September, describing the proposed “Brit card” as an enormous opportunity for the UK that would make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. The cards were intended to detail the holder’s residency status, name, date of birth, and nationality, alongside a photograph, with a planned rollout by 2029.

Beyond the ID scheme, sources indicate that Mr. Burnham plans to overhaul other areas of the previous administration. He is expected to scrap reforms that would have watered down the right to a jury trial, and he intends to restore rebel MP Karl Turner to the parliamentary party after Turner was suspended for opposing the jury trial proposal. Additionally, The Independent reported that the new prime minister will look to set a roadmap to restore 0.7 per cent of GDP spent on international aid to boost the UK’s soft power.

Kemi Badenoch criticizes Andy Burnham’s policy agenda

Historical Context and Public Reaction

The debate over national ID cards has deep roots in British politics. Tony Blair’s government passed legislation in 2006 designed to facilitate the introduction of ID cards, which angered many privacy campaigners at the time. Those plans never came into force and were ultimately scrapped by the coalition government in 2011.

The incoming administration’s focus on this reset has drawn varied reactions. One observer told the BBC regarding the focus on Labour’s internal factions and issues: “It was all Labour this, Labour that, their factions, their issues. I’m not sure that he is aware of what the country’s priorities are and if he’s become prime minister without that then I think he’s going being for a rude awakening, to use his own words.”