Plans for tough new laws curbing social media platforms are being shelved for good, amid claims the Tory leadership race has pushed it off the agenda.
The online security law is said to have been scrapped from next week’s parliamentary affairs and may not return until the fall.
Conservatives will have elected a new leader by then, and at least one contender has vowed to scrap or revise the legislation.
It was rejected before a vote of no confidence in the government, according to PoliticsHome†
A government source blamed Keir Starmer, telling the newspaper: “Labour reduced the amount of time for real parliamentary business so they could play politics.
“They reap what they sow.”
Governments are in charge of the House of Commons agenda and have always followed constitutional precedent to allow time for confidence votes.
Starmer had called for a vote on Wednesday, but Boris Johnson broke the precedent and blocked the move.
Downing Street opposed because it specifically mentioned Mr Johnson, even though motions of no confidence with similar content have been tabled against two prime ministers in the past.
The government itself has now tabled a no-confidence motion, stating that this is an ‘easy’ choice for MPs.
The online safety law would give authorities the power to fine companies such as Twitter, Google and Meta, which own Facebook and Instagram, for failing to comply with the new regulations regarding “lawful but harmful” content.
Serious or persistent violations would result in prison terms.
Campaigners worry that platforms will comply by broadly tightening their algorithms that detect violations of their own terms and conditions.
The bill’s prominent opponents include Kemi Badenoch, one of the Tory leadership candidates who reached the second ballot this week.
Positioning herself as a fighter against ‘wakeful’ attacks on free speech, she told A Hustings on Tuesday: ‘The Online Safety Bill will have serious consequences for free speech.
“I have supported the government in every bill since I became an MP. I’m not going to support it in its current form this week.
Most of the other candidates have not yet taken a firm stance on the legislation, although Liz Truss’ backing is a number of government ministers who have pushed the legislation forward, including current chief architect Nadine Dorries.
In response to the news, personal finance expert Martin Lewis tweeted, “For God’s sake. After years of campaigning to finally get the government to crack down on crooks and make big tech responsible for the ads they are paid to publish, it has now been delayed and possibly dumped.”
The Ministry of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport denied that the bill was withdrawn.
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