The U.K.'s incoming prime minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that the country will scrap its controversial digital ID card scheme. The decision comes after millions of Britons opposed the plan, with a public petition gathering close to three million signatures.

According to the newly appointed finance minister John Healy, the savings from canceling the ID cards program will fund a tax cut aimed at reducing household electricity bills amid rising costs of living. The changes are seen as bringing some ‘breathing room on bills’ and providing reassurance this winter.

The plan to roll out digital identity cards was introduced by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who argued that state-issued IDs would help crack down on illegal working migrants and modernize access to government services. The national ID card system would have cost the government £1.8 billion over three years but faced criticism for potential surveillance implications.

The effort to introduce digital ID cards brought back memories of a similar program under Tony Blair’s government during the 2000s, which was also scrapped in 2011 after a new opposition-led coalition took power following a national election. This time around, public opposition proved too strong for the government.