Andy Burnham will scrap Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship digital ID programme for all adults when he becomes prime minister on Monday.
Burnham’s office described the move as a “reset”, with money earmarked shifted to focus on “the daily priorities facing people across the country”.
A spokesman for the incoming PM said his government would spend time and resources where it’s most needed, such as helping with the cost of living.
The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated last November that the programme would cost £1.8 billion over three years.
Downing Street rejected this figure but did not provide an estimate of its own, which a parliamentary committee noted earlier this year left open the possibility it could be more.
Sir Keir announced digital ID plans ahead of last year’s Labour conference, saying it would be mandatory for right-to-work checks as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.
Ministers expected the programme to go further, becoming the “bedrock of the modern state” in a system of “government by app”.
But support for digital IDs collapsed after Sir Keir announced the plans, and ministers later said it would be voluntary for right-to-work checks.
Shadow technology secretary Julia Lopez said: “Labour have wasted millions of pounds on this project and now Andy Burnham is trying to pretend he’s riding to the rescue.
“After pressure from the Conservatives, mandatory ID was already apparently off the table. Andy Burnham now needs to explain whether that was untrue, or whether he is simply claiming credit for a decision that had already been taken.
“Andy Burnham should stop the political theatre and be clear about what exactly he is scrapping. Only the Conservatives have the team and the plan to restore common sense to public policy.”
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Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart described it as “a huge win for all those who have fought tooth and nail to stop the Government from pushing through its doomed mandatory digital ID scheme”.
Jack Coulson, head of advocacy at Big Brother Watch, welcomed the decision which marks the first major break from Sir Keir’s policies that Burnham has confirmed before taking office.
He is expected to provide further detail of his plans on Monday after visiting Buckingham Palace to “kiss hands” with King Charles and then formally invited to enter No 10.
Allies have said he intends to make a “dynamic start” to his premiership and he is expected to use a speech to set out plans on the cost of living and highlight his core theme of devolving power from Whitehall to regions across the UK.
Reports have suggested he could be preparing to break with another of Sir Keir’s policies and approve further oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump pounced upon these reports with glee, claiming that the people of Aberdeen will be “dancing in the streets”.
Sir Keir Starmer is handing over leadership of the Labour Party – and the country – to Andy Burnham Credit: PA Images
The incoming prime minister has not confirmed reports that he is considering approving new fossil fuel production, particularly in the North Sea’s Rosebank and Jackdaw fields.
However, claiming that Burnham said he would, Trump wrote: “The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”The president, a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, said further drilling in the North Sea would “make the United Kingdom, from a Poverty Stricken Disaster, to one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World”.And in his latest attack on wind power he suggested the UK would “move the old and horrible looking windmills, which loom over and destroy the City of Aberdeen”.Earlier on Sunday, Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell said Burnham would stick to the party’s manifesto commitments on the North Sea while pursuing a “more pragmatic approach”.Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which Burnham has promised to honour, said the party would not issue new North Sea licences, arguing they would “not take a penny off bills” or improve energy security while accelerating climate change.
President Donald Trump has already weighed in on reported policy of Andy Burnham that has not been confirmed. Credit: AP
But the incoming prime minister is said to be “open-minded” about the policy.
He could claim not to be breaking the manifesto pledge by approving projects at the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, where licences have already been granted, while still not issuing any new licences.
Burnham has pledged to reach out to other parties and end a culture of political “point scoring” at Westminster.
However, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she would “score as many points as possible if it means the right thing for the country”.
She added: “What I’m not going to do is give Andy Burnham a blank cheque. This is a man who doesn’t want scrutiny, he doesn’t want anyone asking him tough questions, he just wants to be a people pleaser.”
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