UK government scraps plans for digital ID cards after millions of Brits opposed
The new UK government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham has scrapped a controversial digital ID card program initiated by the previous administration. The funds saved from the cancellation will be redirected toward tax cuts to help households manage rising electricity costs.
Why it matters
This decision marks a significant policy reversal regarding national surveillance and digital infrastructure, reflecting public opposition to data privacy concerns.
The U.K.’s incoming prime minister Andy Burnham has confirmed the U.K. government is scrapping a controversial digital ID card scheme announced last year by the country’s previous leader.
The Burnham administration said the savings from the scrapped ID cards program will fund a tax cut aimed at cutting household electricity bills amid the rising costs of living. The newly appointed finance minister, John Healy, said the changes aims to bring some “breathing room on bills, and provide some reassurance this winter.”
The plan to roll out digital identity cards was introduced by the former prime minister Keir Starmer, who argued that state-issued IDs would crack down on migrants working illegally and modernizing access to government services. The national ID card system would have cost the government £1.8 billion ($2.4b) over three years, but that figure came under dispute as money to fund the scheme was allegedly never allocated.
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