Lib Dems "won't support Digital Economy Bill"

 

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By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 30 Mar 2010 at 17:09

The Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats has said that the party will not support the Digital Economy Bill.

“I have told the Government we won't support the Digital Economy Bill as drafted. There is not enough time for MPs to examine it in detail,” Paul Burstow, who is MP for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park, posted on his Twitter page earlier today.

This follows growing public anger over the bill and an online campaign designed to stop the bill passing rapidly through Parliament. It is currently set to be debated for one day only in the Commons on 6 April.

The Liberal Democrats have previously opposed parts of the bill, including the controversial clause 17, which was defeated in the Lords by a coalition of Lib Dem and Conservative peers earlier this month.

However, they tabled a new amendment, giving courts the power to force ISPs to block access to sites accused of copyright infringement, which has proved just as unpopular as the defeated clause. The new amendment failed to win support in the Lords, and the issue is now scheduled to be dealt with during the bill's whistle-stop passage through the Commons.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats was unable to confirm whether Mr Burstow's tweet was official party policy at the time of publication.