The United Kingdom government has scrapped plans to introduce mandatory digital identity cards after public opposition to the proposal.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who recently took office, confirmed that the government would discontinue the programme introduced by the previous administration led by Keir Starmer.
The government said the money set aside for the digital ID scheme would instead fund tax cuts aimed at reducing household electricity bills amid the rising cost of living in the country.
Finance Minister John Healy said the decision is aimed at providing households with financial relief and ease pressure on energy costs ahead of winter.
The digital identity programme was proposed by the previous government to modernise access to public services and help prevent illegal employment by improving identity verification.
However, the scheme faced resistance for the public, with nearly three million people signing a parliamentary petition opposing the plan, which is the second-largest public petition in UK parliamentary history.
The programme was estimated to cost £1.8 billion (about $2.4 billion) over three years, although questions were raised over whether funding had been formally allocated.
The decision also revives memories of a similar national identity card project introduced under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, which was abandoned in 2011 after a change of government.
The Burnham administration said ending the programme will reduce public spending and prioritise measures to support households facing higher living costs.
