Andy Burnham used his first address from Downing Street to promise a “circuit breaker” moment for Britain as he took over from Keir Starmer, immediately announcing the scrapping of plans for a mandatory digital ID for all adults. The move, which follows new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, will redirect resources towards “the daily priorities facing people across the country”, his spokesperson said.
“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,” the spokesperson added. The digital ID plan, introduced by Starmer ahead of last year's Labour conference, had already been watered down after nearly three million people signed a parliamentary petition opposing it. Dame Karen Bradley, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, called the rollout “nothing short of a fiasco”.
“Andy Burnham scraps digital ID and pledges cost of living relief in first speech as PM.”
Burnham, who became prime minister after meeting King Charles III, said he would set out a 10-year plan later this year to transform the UK. Acknowledging cost of living pressures, he pledged to start announcing measures on Tuesday to give people “some breathing space now”. He later told reporters he was looking at cutting energy bills and bus fares as part of a fully funded support package.
In a surprise cabinet reshuffle, Burnham appointed John Healey – the former defence secretary whose resignation pushed Starmer to the brink – as chancellor. Ed Miliband moved from energy and net zero to foreign secretary, while Shabana Mahmood remained at the Home Office. Louise Haigh, Burnham’s right-hand woman, became first secretary of state and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, running a beefed-up Cabinet Office described as the “political engine room”. Several senior figures left the cabinet, including Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, Darren Jones and Steve Reed.
In his first foreign leader call, Burnham spoke to Donald Trump – who once called him the mayor of “some town” – and invited him to Manchester for next year’s G20 summit. He also telephoned Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Burnham’s office said the scrapping of digital ID represents “a change in direction towards improving everyday life and strengthening local economies over expensive national government schemes.”