Andy Burnham, who has just become the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade, is set to scrap the national digital ID scheme championed by his predecessor Keir Starmer, while creating a new Cabinet-level minister for artificial intelligence. The move, reported by Reuters, marks a sharp reversal of one of Labour's flagship technology policies, with Burnham's team saying the time and resources earmarked for the scheme will instead go towards cost-of-living support and other immediate priorities.

Starmer's original "Brit Card" proposal envisaged a compulsory digital credential holding a worker's name, nationality, date of birth, residency status and photograph, intended to curb illegal working, but it drew fierce criticism from privacy groups including the Open Rights Group and Big Brother Watch over surveillance concerns, forcing ministers to make it voluntary in October 2025. The Office for Budget Responsibility had estimated the scheme's cost at around £1.8 billion between 2026-27 and 2028-29, though the government never confirmed a final figure. In its place, Burnham plans to elevate an AI minister to Cabinet rank for the first time, with details of the role's departmental home expected next week, as part of a broader push to boost Britain's AI industry and adoption across government.