Online Safety Bill hit by 'disgraceful' new delay through Parliament
Online Safety Bill is hit by ‘disgraceful’ new delay on journey through Parliament
- Online Safety Bill delayed again days before it was due to return to Parliament
- Labour’s culture spokesman Lucy Powell branded the move ‘disgraceful’
- She said internet regulation need ‘never been clearer’ after Molly Russell inquest
- Government source said delay was to give MPs time to read new amendments
The Online Safety Bill has been delayed yet again days before it was due to return to Parliament, Labour said yesterday.
Culture spokesman Lucy Powell branded the move ‘disgraceful’ – and said the need for internet regulation had ‘never been clearer’ in the wake of the Molly Russell inquest.
Molly, 14, took her life after being bombarded with depression, self-harm and suicide content on social media in the months before her death.
The Online Safety Bill has been delayed yet again days before it was due to return to Parliament, Labour said yesterday. Culture spokesman Lucy Powell (pictured) branded the move ‘disgraceful’
Molly Russell (left), 14, took her life after being bombarded with depression, self-harm and suicide content on social media in the months before her death
Government whips are understood to have said that the legislation will no longer return to Parliament next Tuesday as scheduled – the second time it has been delayed this year.
In July it was delayed following the resignation of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which is overseeing the Bill, said it would be ‘coming back very shortly’ – but that timetabling was down to the Whips’ Office.
A Government source said the delay was to give MPs time to read new amendments that are yet to be laid, with the Bill still planned to progress ‘within the next few weeks’.
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