Timms confirmed as Digital Britain minister
Stephen Timms has been confirmed as Lord Carter’s replacement, making him the official new driving force behind the Digital Britain agenda.

Treasury minister Stephen Timms was confirmed yesterday as the man who will see through the Digital Britain initiative after the departure of Lord Carter.
Timms will remain Treasury Minister and take on the additional role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
"Building a 21st century knowledge economy is at the heart of Government's vision. It's vital for jobs and growth that Britain is able to maximise the benefits of the digital revolution," said Timms in a statement.
Timms, who previously worked as e-commerce minister as well as in the telecommunications sector, will be supported by creative industries minister Sion Simon.
"At the top of my in-tray will be plans to ensure faster broadband access for homes and businesses and combating digital piracy - as we move towards publication of the Digital Economy Bill," said Timms.
The Digital Britain project will be overseen by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw.
Click here for everything you need to know about the Digital Britain plans.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
-
How to implement a four-day week in tech
In-depth More companies are switching to a four-day week as they look to balance employee well-being with productivity
-
Intelligence sharing: The boost for businesses
In-depth Intelligence sharing with peers is essential if critical sectors are to be protected
-
‘A major step forward’: Keir Starmer’s £187 million tech skills drive welcomed by UK industry
News The ‘TechFirst’ program aims to shore up the UK’s digital skills to meet future AI needs
-
Government’s ‘Humphrey’ AI tool helps local authorities cut costs
News The Minute tool, part of the Humphrey AI assistant, is being trialled at 25 councils
-
Starmer bets big on AI to unlock public sector savings
News AI adoption could be a major boon for the UK and save taxpayers billions, according to prime minister Keir Starmer.
-
UK government targets ‘startup’ mindset in AI funding overhaul
News Public sector AI funding will be overhauled in the UK in a bid to simplify processes and push more projects into development.
-
UK government signs up Anthropic to improve public services
News The UK government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to explore how the company's Claude AI assistant could be used to improve access to public services.
-
The UK’s AI ambitions face one major hurdle – finding enough home-grown talent
News Research shows UK enterprises are struggling to fill AI roles, raising concerns over the country's ability to meet expectations in the global AI race.
-
US government urged to overhaul outdated technology
News A review from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found legacy technology and outdated IT systems are negatively impacting efficiency.
-
Government urged to improve tech procurement practices
News The National Audit Office highlighted wasted money and a lack of progress on major digital transformation programmes