The government’s watered-down Online Safety Bill will not protect children and young people, says Northumberland Labour.

Northumberland Labour’s shadow cabinet member for children and young people Julie Foster said: “The government has now confirmed what we knew already, they’ve failed to read the room on the Online Safety Bill.

“These concessions show the Prime Minister’s priority is his vested interests and fractious party and not the interests of potentially vulnerable children.”

Labour was ahead of the curve calling for stronger regulation online that protects children, our society and democracy. Labour welcomes these changes but in watering down this legislation the scope of the regulator is too narrow.

Julie added: “Labour will continue to press the government to improve this Bill. The Conservatives have allowed online harms to thrive and proliferate because of their failure to deliver on this legislation which is years in the making.”