Andy Burnham plans to drop digital ID scheme and shift focus to living costs
The incoming Labour leader is expected to abandon the ID card plan and redirect attention and resources toward household expenses.
Andy Burnham is set to abandon Keir Starmer’s digital ID proposal when he takes office on Monday, according to people close to his team. The move would mark his first major policy decision as incoming prime minister and is intended to put more emphasis on the cost of living.
A spokesperson for Burnham said his government would concentrate on the issues affecting households most immediately. The team indicated that resources tied to the ID scheme would be moved toward measures aimed at easing financial pressure.
The digital ID plan had been one of Starmer’s signature ideas, but it has faced criticism from opponents. Burnham’s allies described the change as a shift in priorities rather than a broader policy reversal.
Burnham is due to enter Downing Street on Monday, with the policy change expected to be among the first signals of his approach in office.
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