Lucy Powell responds to the government dropping the Online Safety Bill from business

Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Culture Secretary, responding to the government dropping the Online Safety Bill from next week’s parliamentary business, said:

“This is a devastating blow, which will leave children less safety, make it easier for terrorists to plot, and fail to prevent foreign state actors from interfering with the security and governance of the UK.

“It’s been five years in the making, coming from civil society and children’s charities with cross-party support, improved and scrutinised in draft form, and undergone weeks of amendments and improvements from Labour in committee.

“Yet again, the Tories are putting their own interests above the national interests. They should bring the Bill back urgently so that children can be safe online.”