Labour sends mixed messages to global innovator – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

Mike Salem, the UK Country Associate for the leading international consumer group, the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), expressed his views on the government’s plan to shelve £1.3 billion of investment in the tech and AI sectors.

While fiscal cuts may be necessary, consumers would have been better off with an accompanying announcement encouraging innovation and competition, which would lead to better outcomes for everyday use.

For example, by being more permissive than the EU, the UK can attract more innovators to develop their leading products in our country.

In a statement, Salem warned that the government’s plan directly contradict Labour’s mission to create wealth.

He stated: “In its effort to reduce public spending, the government’s image of being  more fiscally responsible remains to be seen, but we hope there will not be an abandonment wholesale of the promise of AI innovation in the private sector.”

Salem further stated that the problem here is not the government is trying to balance the books, but that it has misled the tech ecosystem and consumers alike in this process.

He explained: “The Labour government knew the state of the economy before they formulated their manifesto, through Access Talks.

“Therefore, sending mixed messages of initial commitment and then pulling funding from projects not only shows lack of vision in governance, but uncertainty about the government’s attitude to tech and AI.

“We urge the government to act quickly in reaffirming its commitment to making the UK a hub of AI and tech innovation, through relaxing constraints on technological innovation processes and abandoning the proposed AI Bill.”

The Consumer Choice Center continually advocates for consumer rights and freedom of choice through grassroots campaigns and focuses on a wide range of issues, including the economy, technology, and lifestyle.