The UK’s controversial Digital Economy Bill looks likely to be made law after a passionate but scarcely attended debate in the House of Commons yesterday.
If there’s one thing that sums up the debate, it’s the image to the right. Shared around Twitter last night after being posted by Myatu, it shows just how few MPs bothered to debate this bill that promises to significantly reshape Britain’s digital future.
The debate went on long into the evening and we suspect that this was taken later on in proceedings but even at the debate’s peak, attendance in the House was thin to say the least.
Just as a reminder about why this is important, the controversial elements of this wide-ranging bill include.
- Compulsory internet disconnection for persistent internet pirates. Isn’t an internet connection close to becoming a basic human right in the UK?
- The ability for copyright holders to force ISPs to block access to websites they say are hosting illegally copied files.
- Owners of publicly accessible wi-fi hotspots will be liable for piracy committed on their connection. Bye-bye public wi-fi?
Many of the MPs who spoke at yesterday’s debate said that the Bill requires more time to be considered and shouldn’t be rushed through before the election. Still, it looks likely that it will be hurried through its final stages to be made law before the 6 May General Election. So much for our earlier optimism, eh?
The government line appears to be “Yes, it’s not perfect, but let’s pass this now and we’ll fix its shortcomings later”. If that happens, it will be a victory for the New Rich Luddite pressure groups with friends in high places.
The Bill goes to its committee stage today.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
I watched the whole 6 hours of it, and am ashamed to see our parliamentary system mocked by the washup in this way. Not one MP said the bill was good enough to pass through, most said it was very badly flawed but it was easier to pass it and fix it later. AS IF.
Thousands of letters and emails were sent to MPs, and at one point only 9 or 10 were in the house listening to the debate. If this is democracy then I am afraid the law and the government is an Ass.
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
If you want to try to change things. Write to your local MP. They aren't going to know your opinions unless you do!
http://www.writetothem.com/
That sounds like the line used to pass healthcare in the US. It's not good, but it's better than nothing! We can fix it later!
Anyhow, it's nice to see government caving to the demands of big business, instead of looking out for the average citizen. I don't know what would happen if governments were to actually listen to what people want for a change and force content creators to police their own material, rather than pushing the burdens and costs onto other people.
The controversial Digital frugalness calculate was passed in kingdom by 189 votes to 47 at the third datum terminal night. The House of Commons prefabricated it possible for the calculate to be passed as a accumulation soon. According to one of the key provisions