\u201cOne of the first things this government will do is put its focus where people need it right now: creating breathing space and delivering change they can feel in their everyday lives,\u201d Burnham\u2019s spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means all the time and resource that was going to be spent on a national ID scheme will go instead to where it\u2019s most needed, such as helping with the cost of living.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis government is determined to bring power back to communities, instead of hoarding it in Whitehall. We will work every day to lift this country back up to where it belongs \u2013 with growth in every postcode, and hope in every heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, it is unclear how much money the decision to scrap the controversial project will save as Starmer\u2019s government did not set out a clear budget for the initiative.<\/p>\n
The Office for Budget Responsibility suggested it could cost about \u00a31.8bn, but its estimate was rejected by officials.<\/p>\n
Starmer first announced plans for a digital ID scheme<\/a> last September, as part of plans to combat illegal working. It was planned to be rolled out by 2029.<\/p>\n He said the proposed \u201cBrit card\u201d would be compulsory for those who needed to prove they were allowed to work in the UK amid growing fears about illegal immigration.<\/p>\n The cards were to detail the holder\u2019s residency status, name, date of birth and nationality, alongside their photograph.<\/p>\n Starmer billed the rollout as \u201can enormous opportunity for the UK\u201d and said the ID cards \u201cwill make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure\u201d.<\/p>\n Tony Blair\u2019s government passed legislation designed to facilitate the introduction of ID cards<\/a> in 2006, to the anger of many privacy campaigners. His plans never came into force and were ultimately scrapped by the coalition government<\/a> in 2011.<\/p>\n The Tony Blair Institute, set up by the former prime minister after his departure from frontline politics, was one of several Labour-aligned thinktanks to welcome the fresh proposals put forward by Starmer.<\/p>\n \u201cMake no mistake, if the government announces a universal digital ID to help improve our public services, it would be one of the most important steps taken by this or any government to make British citizens\u2019 everyday lives easier and build trust,\u201d its director of government innovation, Alexander Iosad, said.<\/p>\n However, the plans attracted widespread backlash from opposition politicians and civil rights groups.<\/p>\n The Conservative MP David Davis said: \u201cNo system is immune to failure, and we have seen time and again governments and tech giants fail to protect people\u2019s personal data. If world-leading companies cannot protect our data, I have little faith that Whitehall would be able to do better.\u201d<\/p>\n The party\u2019s leader, Kemi Badenoch, did not take a definitive position but described the policy as a \u201cthrowaway\u201d announcement \u201cdesigned to distract attention from Andy Burnham\u2019s leadership manoeuvrings\u201d.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | Every weekday<\/p>\n Sign up to First Edition<\/p>\n Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what\u2019s happening and why it matters<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n The Liberal Democrats added that the party could not get behind \u201ca mandatory digital ID where people are forced to turn over their private data just to go about their daily lives\u201d.<\/p>\n Jim Killock, from the Open Rights Group, said Labour was \u201cat risk of creating a digital surveillance infrastructure that will change everyone\u2019s daily lives and establish a pre-crime state where we constantly have to prove who we are\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782846071_379_1000.jpg\")
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