Archive · 19 Jul 2026
UK PM Andy Burnham Drops Digital ID Plan
Andy Burnham is the new Prime Minister of the UK.
He decided to stop a plan for a digital ID scheme that the previous leader, Keir Starmer, started.
This plan was not popular and cost a lot of money.
Burnham wants to use that money to help people with the cost of living instead.
Some people from the Conservative Party say this is a waste of money, but Burnham thinks it's better to focus on other important things.
Right now, people in the UK use passports and driving licences to prove who they are.
Andy Burnham will scrap the digital ID scheme upon becoming UK Prime Minister.
Resources will be redirected to focus on living costs and other priorities.
The digital ID scheme was criticized as a 'fiasco' and cost an estimated £1.8 billion.
Burnham aims to halt the rise of the populist Reform UK party.
The Conservative Party criticizes the decision, calling it a waste of money.
- Who
- Andy Burnham, the new UK Prime Minister
- What
- Scrapping the digital ID scheme and redirecting resources
- When
- Monday, after being elected on Friday
- Where
- United Kingdom
- Why
- To focus on cost of living and other priorities
Labour Party
Conservative Party
Digital ID Scheme
Labour Party
Scrapped to focus on cost of living and redirect resources.
Conservative Party
Criticized as a waste of millions of pounds.
- New Prime Minister
- Andy Burnham
- Previous Prime Minister
- Keir Starmer
- Digital ID Scheme Cost
- £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion)
- Time Frame for Costs
- 2026/27 to 2028/29
- Opposition Critic
- Julia Lopez
- Party Affiliation of Critic
- Conservative Party
- Current Identity Documents
- Passports and driving licences