UK PM Andy Burnham to Abandon Digital Identity Scheme

Andy Burnham, who will become the United Kingdom's seventh Prime Minister in a decade, has announced plans to scrap the digital identity scheme initially proposed to help tackle illegal immigration. This decision follows significant public backlash against the scheme, which was set to be compulsory starting in January.

Burnham, the leader of the Labour Party and former Mayor of Greater Manchester, emphasized redirecting resources to address rising costs of living instead. The digital identity scheme, which aimed to ensure that every employee holds a digital identification document, was estimated to cost between £1.8 billion and £2.4 billion for the financial years 2026-27 and 2028-29.

The proposal faced criticism across the political spectrum, with opposition lawmakers, including Conservative MP Julia Lopez, arguing that it resembled the identity card system abolished after World War II.