Incoming UK prime minister Burnham, who assumes office next Monday, will abandon the Starmer government's proposed digital ID scheme and redirect resources toward cost-of-living relief, Burnham’s team said on Saturday. The scheme drew about 3 million signatures on an opposition petition last year. It is unclear how much fiscal saving abandonment would yield: the Starmer government did not publish a clear budget for the plan, and the Office for Budget Responsibility previously estimated costs aro

Incoming UK prime minister Burnham, who assumes office next Monday, will abandon the Starmer government's proposed digital ID scheme and redirect resources toward cost-of-living relief, Burnham’s team said on Saturday. The scheme drew about 3 million signatures on an opposition petition last year. It is unclear how much fiscal saving abandonment would yield: the Starmer government did not publish a clear budget for the plan, and the Office for Budget Responsibility previously estimated costs around £1.8bn, a figure government officials have contested.