Labour leader candidate Jeremy Corbyn has delivered his manifesto for a ‘Digital Democracy’, which includes a digital ‘bill of rights’ and high speed internet access for every home and business in the UK.
The manifesto was launched as part of his campaign to continue as leader of the Labour party ahead of the Labour election next month. He pledged to utilise the internet to encourage political participation and harness “the advances of new technology to organise political campaigning like we’ve never seen before.”
He said, “There is also a clear need for more online democracy and our manifesto today sets out how Labour would democratise the internet in order to rebuild and transform Britain, so that no-one and no community is left behind.”
Corbyn made his speech at Newspeak House in Shoreditch this morning, causing the hashtag #digitaldemocracy to trend on Twitter. His seven-point manifesto included high speed internet access all over the country, a plan which he said would cost £25 billion, as well as a Digital Citizen Passport and a ‘People’s Charter of Digital Liberties’.
However, somewhat ironically given the topic under discussion, the effectiveness of the campaign launch was hindered by technical problems that affected the speech’s live stream.
Even ardent Corbynites can see the funny side when Jeremy’s digital stream failed during the launch of his #DigitalDemocracy manifesto ?
— I was a JSA claimant (@imajsaclaimant) August 30, 2016
The speech also seemed to confuse some Twitter users:
I don’t understand Jeremy Corbyn’s #DigitalDemocracy manifesto and I spend my life on the internet.
— Felicity Morse (@FelicityMorse) August 30, 2016
One Twitter user asked the really pressing question:
Will there be a National Meme Executive? #DigitalDemocracy
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) August 30, 2016