The announcement follows months of political debate over the proposal, which had already been scaled back after widespread public opposition. According to the BBC, Burnham’s team described the decision as a “reset of priorities”, intended to focus government efforts on issues affecting people’s everyday lives.
The digital ID scheme was originally introduced under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership as part of a wider plan to modernise public services and strengthen right-to-work checks. Ministers later revised the proposal after criticism from political opponents, campaign groups and members of the public.
The decision to abandon the project altogether signals an early attempt by Burnham’s incoming government to distinguish itself from its predecessor while placing greater emphasis on household finances and local communities.
Resources Redirected Towards Cost of Living Support
Burnham’s spokesperson said one of the new government’s first actions would be to shift attention towards “the daily priorities facing people across the country“. According to the BBC, the time and resources previously intended for a national digital ID scheme will instead be directed “where it’s most needed, such as helping with the cost of living“.
The spokesperson also said the government intended to “bring power back to communities, instead of hoarding it in Whitehall”, describing the move as part of a broader change in priorities focused on strengthening local economies.
The digital ID programme had become increasingly controversial after a parliamentary petition opposing the plans attracted more than three million signatures. According to Bloomberg, the UK’s fiscal watchdog estimated the programme would cost around £600 million per year, while the government had previously disputed higher estimates published elsewhere.
Earlier this year, ministers had already abandoned plans to make the scheme mandatory, instead proposing a voluntary system that could eventually be used to access a range of public services. A subsequent inquiry by the Home Affairs Committee described the handling of the policy as “nothing short of a fiasco”, saying the rollout had raised concerns about government overreach.
Political Reactions Reflect Long-Running Divisions Over the Proposal
The decision has drawn contrasting responses from across the political spectrum. Conservative shadow technology secretary Julia Lopez accused Burnham of attempting to claim credit for a decision that had effectively already been taken after mandatory digital ID plans were dropped. She questioned whether the previous changes had genuinely removed compulsory elements of the policy.
The Liberal Democrats welcomed the announcement. MP Lisa Smart said people would be relieved they would no longer be required to hand over personal data simply to go about their daily lives, adding that her party had consistently argued the scheme represented poor value for taxpayers.
Campaign groups also maintained their opposition. Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, previously warned that a universal digital ID system risked creating what he described as a digital surveillance infrastructure requiring people to prove their identity routinely.
According to Bloomberg, scrapping the digital ID programme forms part of a wider series of early announcements planned by Burnham before taking office on Monday. These include proposals relating to North Sea oil and gas development and the future of Thames Water, as the incoming prime minister prepares to set out a different direction for his government.
