The Labour Party manifesto for the 2024 general election pledges to support the tech and digital sectors by implementing a new industrial strategy and reforming planning rules to enhance digital infrastructure such as datacentres.
The manifesto outlines the establishment of an Industrial Strategy Council to provide advice from businesses and promote a more cohesive and technology-driven government approach. Labour aims to work closely with industry to capitalize on opportunities for growth and update national planning policies to better accommodate the needs of a modern economy, including the development of laboratories, digital infrastructure, and gigafactories.
If elected, Labour plans to develop a 10-year infrastructure strategy aligned with industrial strategy and regional development priorities focused on improving mobile and broadband networks, artificial intelligence (AI), and datacentres. The party criticizes the current government’s lagging investment in 5G and slow progression in gigabit broadband rollout, vowing to achieve full gigabit and national 5G coverage by 2030.
Additionally, Labour pledges to establish a National Data Library to support data-driven public services, improve regulatory environments to facilitate innovation, and introduce laws to regulate AI companies. The party also plans to enhance the use of technology in public sector reforms, including healthcare, policing, and tax enforcement.
In healthcare, Labour aims to leverage technologies like AI to enhance diagnostic services and transform healthcare delivery. The party plans to empower patients with the NHS App and digitize children’s health records. In policing, Labour will prioritize technological advancements to address modern threats and standardize procurement and IT approaches.
Labour also pledges to modernize HM Revenue & Customs to combat tax avoidance, potentially targeting e-commerce companies to level the playing field between high street businesses and online giants. The manifesto also promises swift justice for those affected by the Horizon IT scandal.