UK government scraps digital ID card plans due to public opposition
The U.K.'s incoming prime minister has confirmed the government is scrapping a digital ID card scheme. Savings from the canceled program will fund a tax cut to address the cost of living crisis.
The U.K. government will scrap a controversial digital ID card scheme, incoming prime minister Andy Burnham announced, reversing a policy introduced by the previous administration. The decision comes after widespread public opposition to the plan.
Savings generated from canceling the digital ID program will be redirected to fund a tax cut aimed at easing household electricity bills amid rising living costs, according to the government. Finance Minister John Healy stated the measures are intended to provide relief on bills and offer reassurance this winter.
The digital ID card initiative was originally proposed by former prime minister Keir Starmer, who argued it would combat illegal working and modernize access to government services. The program was projected to cost £1.8 billion over three years, though questions were raised about whether funding had been fully allocated.
Millions of British citizens opposed the mandatory digital ID cards, with a public petition against the plan gathering close to 3 million signatures, making it the second-largest on record. Critics expressed concerns that the cards would enable increased surveillance. The move echoes a similar national ID card scheme from the 2000s, which was ultimately abandoned in 2011.