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Where now for Digital Britain as Siôn Simon quits?

digital britain
(cc) by bortescristian/flickr

The UK Government's Digital Britain plans have hit another road block with the news, reported in the Guardian, that Siôn Simon, the Creative Industries Minister who was in charge of getting the legislation through parliament, is quitting to run for Mayor of Birmingham.

It's a strange example of 'brain-drain', with a successful minister aiming to take on a higher profile role, but in doing so potentially torpedoing the legislation that was set to lay out his legacy. But perhaps that is exactly what is going on - with the Tories claiming this shows the Labour plans to be in total disarray, and with Labour's response being... well, nothing really - perhaps Simon is getting out before a plan which has elicited controversy and attacks from all sides gets passed and pinned on him?

We'll see what announcements the DCMS makes on this, but with only a few months before an election, and the bill already having something of a hard time in the Lords, this might make its death knell.

Have your say about Britain's Digital Future

digital future: (cc) by Jason Cartwright/flickr(cc) by Jason Cartwright/flickrThe UK Government has announced its new site - Digital Britain Forum - for gathering the population's views on the Digital Britain Framework. If you've been asleep, the Digital Britain Framework outlines the government's vision for the future of broadband in the UK, including some aspects of the content provision.

You can read the report at the site, and leave your feedback. It's your chance to have your say - positive or negative - about this important paper, so don't miss out.

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