UK Business leaders lack confidence in political parties to deliver Digital Britain Bill

HOTWIRE, the technology public relations agency, and CPR, its sister public affairs firm, have today warned that UK business and IT leaders have been left confused, uninspired and uncertain by the main political parties’ policy agendas for Digital Britain.

According to a study conducted by Hotwire and CPR, only 6 per cent of IT and business leaders are extremely confident that politicians can deliver on the Digital Britain Bill, while 34 per cent said none of the political parties have the capacity to put the UK at the forefront of digital technology – all this comes just weeks ahead of the UK’s general election.

Despite exhaustive coverage and commentary, only 20 per cent of those surveyed for the Hotwire and CPR report claim to have a strong understanding of the main political parties’ digital policies, while 18 per cent claim to have no understanding. Asked how confident they were in politicians to deliver what is required to put the UK at the forefront of the digital technology, 60 per cent said they were either not at all confident or not confident, and only 6 per cent felt extremely confident. Forced to choose between which of the political parties has the capacity to put the UK at the forefront of digital technology, over a third of those surveyed said ‘none of them’. The Conservatives were ranked the most likely political party to put the UK at the forefront of digital technology with 30 per cent, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 22 per cent, and Labour trailing with only 14 per cent.

Rebecca Honeyman, associate director, Hotwire UK, and joint author of the white paper, said: “There is no question that digital innovation must play a vital role in breathing fresh impetus into the UK economy. Yet, it is frustrating that there appears to be a disconnect between what we want and believe should happen, and the absence of any shared belief that we can make it happen. Given the intellectual resources and heritage the UK has in digital innovation, it is troubling that we find ourselves in this quagmire. The fact a third of respondents felt no party has the capacity to put the UK at the forefront of digital technology highlights a clear political void that must be filled.”

Gary Sargent, public affairs director, CPR, and joint author of the white paper, said: “The results of our commissioned research clearly indicates that UK businesses are deeply sceptical about the capacity of our politicians to deliver what is necessary for the recovering UK economy to be assisted and enhanced by the opportunities that cutting edge digital capabilities will deliver. As the Digital Economy Bill makes its way from the House of Lords to the Commons Public Bill Committee, interested parties should take advantage of the opportunity to make submissions on this key legislation and help shape this crucial policy area to place our digital industries on the best possible footing for the challenging months and years ahead.”

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