UK PM Andy Burnham to scrap digital ID, redirect funds to cost‑of‑living

Incoming prime minister Andy Burnham announced that his government will abandon the planned national digital ID scheme and reallocate the resources to address the cost‑of‑living crisis. The Office for Budget Responsibility had estimated the scheme would cost about £1.8 billion over three years, a figure the government has not confirmed. The policy, first introduced by Sir Keir Starmer as a mandatory tool for right‑to‑work checks, was later softened to a voluntary app after a public petition gathered around three million signatures. Burnham’s team framed the move as a “reset of priorities” to deliver tangible help to households. Opposition parties and privacy groups welcomed the decision but warned that broader digital surveillance concerns remain.