Andy Burnham to scrap digital ID to focus on cost of living

"This reprioritisation of public resource shows a change in direction towards improving everyday life and strengthening local economies over expensive national government schemes."Plans for a digital ID scheme had initially been introduced by Sir Keir ahead of Labour's conference last year. At the time, Starmer argued that mandatory digital ID for workers would make it easier to clamp down on immigrants working illegally and modernise the state.As well as tackling illegal immigration, Starmer said a digital ID system would enable citizens to prove identity to access key services quickly instead of having to hunt for utility bills.The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated last November that the programme would cost £1.8 billion over three years, but Downing Street rejected this figure.In January, after nearly three million people signed a parliamentary petition opposing the introduction of digital IDs, the government changed its approach. Instead, Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones unveiled a voluntary scheme, which he said could eventually allow people to do everything from managing their childcare to filling in tax returns on a "one stop" app.Soon after, Home Affairs Committee Chair Dame Karen Bradley said the government was right to introduce digital ID but had botched the launch.In a report setting out the committee's investigation into the launch and subsequent changes to the digital ID policy, Dame Karen called attempts to set out the plans "nothing short of a fiasco" which "raised fears of government over-reach into people's lives". Burnham will become prime minister after meeting with King Charles III on Monday, and his office said "one of the first things this government will do is put its focus where people need it right now". Scrapping digital ID, the spokesperson said, will mean "redirecting the resources earmarked for the scheme towards people's everyday priorities".The update on digital IDs follows news that Burnham will announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea after he becomes prime minister.The Labour Party's 2024 manifesto - which the new leader said he would follow - had pledged to not issue new licences but to honour existing ones.While details of the oil and gas plans are not clear, the incoming prime minister is expected to uphold the manifesto commitment.This means the Labour leader could pledge to speed up existing plans to drill more in the North Sea, where many oil and gas licences already approved in recent years remain largely undeveloped due to a variety of reasons.As Burnham prepares to take office on Monday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned his plans for government are "airy fairy" in an interview for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. She accused Burnham of not being aware of "what the country's priorities are" and stressed the country needs a leader ready to "take tough decisions".