Andy Burnham is set to abandon Keir Starmer’s flagship digital ID programme as he takes office on Monday, according to the report. The move is being framed by Burnham’s team as part of a broader reset of government priorities at the start of the new administration.
The digital ID plan had been one of the higher-profile policies associated with Starmer’s agenda. But Burnham’s allies say the funding previously allocated to introducing the system will instead be redirected toward what they describe as more tangible improvements.
That decision suggests the incoming government wants to focus on policies with more immediate, visible impact rather than pursuing a major digital identity rollout. It also points to an early effort by Burnham to put distance between his programme and Starmer’s policy platform.
The reported change is part of a wider promised shakeup of priorities as Burnham begins his term. Scrapping the digital ID scheme would mark an early and symbolic policy reversal, signaling a different approach to spending and delivery.
