Andy Burnham, in a pledge to reset priorities when he becomes Prime Minister, has committed to abolishing the digital ID scheme. The new leader of the Labour Party has promised to scrap the controversial plan and reallocate resources to other areas.
Last September, Keir Starmer had announced that digital ID would become mandatory for proving the right to work in the UK by 2029. However, this decision faced significant opposition, with a petition garnering three million signatures urging the government to reconsider.
Despite earlier adjustments by ministers indicating that the use of digital ID would not be obligatory, the plans will now be completely abandoned.
A spokesperson for Mr. Burnham stated that the government’s immediate focus would be on addressing people’s current needs, such as easing financial burdens, instead of pursuing a national ID scheme. The government aims to decentralize power and prioritize community empowerment.
Although employers will still need to conduct mandatory right-to-work checks, they can already perform these checks digitally. Labour sources view this decision as an early indication of the new administration’s priorities, emphasizing community needs.
Mr. Burnham is scheduled to deliver his inaugural address as Prime Minister on Monday, outlining plans to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and stimulate economic growth across the UK.
Previously, the cross-party Home Affairs Committee criticized the Government for rushing digital ID plans without proper policy groundwork or public support.
Recent polling revealed that over half of UK citizens expressed concerns about potential government tracking through digital ID. A survey conducted by Deltapoll showed that 61% of respondents worry about the monitoring of digital ID usage.
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