Owen Paterson moves the goalposts again (but this time, without the badgers)

Owen Paterson has been caught moving the goalposts once again, only this time it’s on rural broadband and there are no badgers to blame.

In his conference speech the Secretary of State made reference to the £1.2 billion of public investment that was being made to help connect some 400,000 rural homes and businesses to superfast broadband.  He then went on to highlight that, “Across the country, 100,000 properties are being connected every week “.

Odd, because when David Cameron recently spoke of the “huge strides” rural broadband is making under his government, he cited a figure of only 10,000. ‘Huge strides’ in this context is being two years behind schedule and £207 million over budget.

So which answer is correct, Paterson or Cameron?

Broadband is one of the most important issues to rural communities and has huge potential to deliver economic, social, and cultural benefits for the people within them; so this is an important issue which needs clarification.

After raising this issue in the House, the Secretary of State was kind enough to respond and stated:

“The figure of 100,000 premises which I used in my Party Conference Speech relates to the number of homes and businesses which are getting access to superfast broadband across the country each week as a result of both private and public sector investment”.  

Clearly Paterson has once again been caught massaging the facts to fit his failing policies. Rural communities who have been failed by this government’s lack lustre roll out of superfast broadband will not be fooled by spin and misinformation.

This is a hugely important issue to these communities, and they should be represented by a Defra Secretary who understands the issue and will champion it on their behalf, not cherry pick his facts in an attempt to paper over the cracks.

Mr Paterson should think again before he thinks he can con the public into passing off his government’s failures on this issue as a success.

Huw Irranca-Davies is Shadow Minister for the Rural Economy, Food, and Farming