0h 4min, jul 19, 2026 y - Burnham's First major Policy Pledge

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Andy Burnham will scrap plans for a government-issued digital ID for all British adults when he becomes prime minister on Monday.

The move, which follows plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, will shift focus to "the daily priorities facing people across the country", Burnham's office said.

Under Sir Keir Starmer, the government had already watered down proposals to introduce a mandatory digital ID for workers in the UK.

Now, by dropping the plans entirely, Burnham's spokesperson said the "time and resource that was going to be spent on a national ID scheme will go instead to where it's most needed, such as helping with the cost of living".

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