A Digital Manifesto for 2015 - some suggestions
There are some simple things the next Labour Government
could do:
1.
When a Bill goes through Parliament the Treasury
has to assess whether or not it has any financial implications; why not add
another compulsory requirement which asks what the digital impact is for the
said Bill. If there are none then there must be something wrong with the Bill.
2.
To put out to tender a thin tablet for schools
use; this should retail at about £30; pre-load on the tablets apps which links
to an iCloud centre which houses the school curriculum including text books,
videos of our best teachers teaching their subjects in 90 second films, 0800
homework help lines manned by retired teachers, social network support sites,
examination papers, study schemes et al. This would fundamentally change
education and exponentially increase our children’s life chances
3.
Make mobile operators have a public good clause
so that the whole of the UK is covered by 4G and 5G not just the major
conurbations – current coverage of 3G is poor in coastal and rural areas
4.
Ensure that the Internet of Things is embedded
in all our thinking especially in our infrastructure
5.
Establish a Public Sector wireless offering
funded by the Lottery which ensures all cities, towns and villages are
connected
6.
Provide a fund from the Licence Fee (5%) to
create PBS content
7.
To bring in a law on internet privacy which put
the citizen first
8.
To create a world internet policy centre for the
global citizen; we have only soft power left to influence the world so why not
a third strand to the British Council and BBC World Service?
9.
Make BT deliver broadband to the home without a second
telephone line; why have they been allowed to do this for the past 20 years
without a whimper from any Govt.?
10.
To fine companies operating in the UK with
offshores tax centres the amount they would have to pay if they operated within
the law; so change the law; this would create 60 new hospitals or 400 new
secondary schools p.a.; what’s wrong with that? (Ok that’s a bit of a guess but you
understand where I am coming from)
11.
To make sure our tax position on digital start-ups
is equal to or better than those in California or Ontario and if not why not?
12.
To make the third most important politician in
the land Chancellor of Digital