Burnham focuses on cost of living, scraps digital ID programme

Moscow (ANTARA) - Incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will cancel the implementation of the national digital identity programme in the United Kingdom, according to a spokesperson for the politician.

According to reports by The Guardian, the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer had stated it would not make digital identity mandatory. The Starmer government had only planned to make the programme voluntary.

However, Burnham now intends to discontinue the programme entirely.

“All the time and resources previously allocated to the national identity scheme will be redirected to sectors in greater need, such as helping people cope with the rising cost of living,” Burnham’s spokesperson said, as quoted by The Guardian.

The Burnham government will also focus its attention on efforts to improve people’s financial circumstances and strengthen the decentralisation of government authority.

Nevertheless, the newspaper noted that it is not yet known exactly how much budget could be saved through the cancellation of the digital identity programme.

Burnham was elected as Labour Party leader on Friday (17 July) and is scheduled to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday (20 July).