Incoming UK PM Burnham to Scrap 'BritCard' Digital ID, Redirect £1.8 Billion to Cost-of-Living

Incoming Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on July 20, 2026, that he will scrap the UK's proposed 'BritCard' digital ID scheme, abandoning the universal government-backed identity credential proposed in September 2025. The estimated £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) in planned spending will redirect toward cost-of-living priorities. A parliamentary petition against the scheme gathered nearly three million signatures.