Election 2017: What Do The Major Parties Plan For Technology?

Green Party

Support for the UK technology industry: No specific policies beyond commitments to renewable energy. There was however a promise to support the startups in the tech sector and beyond.

The Green Party would invest in education and scrap tuition fees.

Communications: No specific policies with the party’s attention focused on transport and other infrastructure

Regulation and Brexit: The party’s manifesto plans to improve energy efficiency and support renewables. A four day week would be imposed and there is a pledge to clamp down on tax evasion.

The Greens are against Brexit and also want a second referendum with the option to remain.

UKIP

Support for the UK technology industry: No specific policies for the sector. UKIP would introduce more technical education in schools and waive tuition fees for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees if students work in the UK for five years after graduation.

SMBs would be able to bid for all government contracts, receive support and benefit from ‘coastal enterprise zones’ that could house technology firms.

Communications: No policies

Regulation & Brexit: UKIP is unsurprisingly in favour of Brexit and would impose significant immigration restrictions.

Technology firms in the UK would be restricted on recruitment as only EU citizens who were resident in the UK before Article 50 was triggered would be able to stay and enjoy their present rights – so long as British citizens receive the same treatment.

An ‘Australian style’ points system would be introduced to see which skills were needed and an international Visa system would treat EU and non-EU citizens equally. Workers with salaries in excess of £30,000 would be prioritised.

British firms would have to advertise jobs in Britain before they were advertised overseas and it would not be illegal to hire a less qualified British young person over a more experienced foreign applicant.