Incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that the UK government is scrapping the controversial digital ID card scheme announced last year by the country’s previous leader.
The Burnham administration said the savings from the eliminated ID card program would be used to fund tax cuts aimed at reducing household electricity bills amid the rising cost of living. The newly appointed finance minister, John Healey, said the changes were intended to “provide some relief on bills and provide some reassurance this winter”.
Plans to issue digital identity cards were introduced by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who argued that state-issued IDs would crack down on immigrants working illegally and modernize access to government services. The national ID card system will cost the government £1.8 billion ($2.4b) over three years, but figure in dispute Because the money was reportedly never allocated to finance the scheme.
Starmer announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister on 22 June. He was formally replaced by Burnham on Monday.
Millions of Britons protested against plans for mandatory digital ID cards Second largest public parliamentary petition on recordNearly 3 million signatures were collected rejecting the plan. Critics said that the introduction of ID cards would make surveillance possible.
The effort evoked memories of a similar government program of issuing identity cards under the Tony Blair government during the 2000s, but Removed shortly thereafter in 2011 A new opposition-led coalition government took power following national elections.
