AI Bill – UK Leadership on AI Regulation

The UK has an opportunity to be world leading in AI, with a focus on ethical AI for the common good and benefit of humanity. The government’s current approach, light touch regulation in an effort not to dampen innovation, is well intentioned but wrong. Right sized regulation will support, not stifle, innovation and is essential …

Automated Vehicles Bill

The Automated Vehicles Bill [HL] is a government bill announced in the Kings Speech (2023) and introduced in the House of Lords at the beginning of the 2023–24 parliamentary session. During Committee Stage in the House of Lords I tabled several amendments regarding accessibility, interoperability and public engagement. The government says it will “deliver one of the world’s …

Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill (AI Bill) Introduced

It was a privilege to introduce my Private Member’s Bill on artificial intelligence (AI) into the House of Lords this month. In the Bill I have tried to incorporate much of what I believe we need to sort, in short order, when it comes to AI. Every King’s Speech offers members of both Houses of Parliament the …

10 Years in the House of Lords – why technology and inclusion are the golden threads

Exactly 10 years ago today, on 30th October 2013, I was sworn in to the House of Lords as a life peer. As I said in my maiden speech “it’s incredible for someone from my background to have arrived in your Lordships house” and I feel more than a slight sense of disbelief when I …

Bank Closures

On Friday (29 September 2023) Barclays closed three more of it’s branches in Redditch, Bude and Hanover Square London. They are not alone. In recent weeks, HSBC, Lloyds and Halifax have also pulled down the shutters for the last time on branches across the country. Since 2015 nearly 5000 branches have closed and more than …

The Electronic Trade Documents Act Comes into Force

The Electronic Trade Documents Act comes into force today, 20th September 2023. I have repeatedly described it as one of the most important laws you’ve never heard of because, although it is a small sounding law with a simple purpose – to permit electronic trade documents on the same legal basis as paper documents – …

Financial Services and Markets Bill: Access to Cash and Digital Financial Services Amendments

We are currently in Committee Stage of the Financial Services and Markets Bill in the House of Lords – examining this important legislation clause by clause, line by line, debating the principles, highlighting concerns and suggesting changes. On the seventh day of this process (7th March 2023) I introduced four amendments, all with the intention …

Levelling-Up Bill Amendments: Robot Taskforce

Latest robot density figures show UK lagging far behind global competitors. We must act urgently to invest in automation technology and reverse this decline which is why I tabled an amendment to the Levelling Up Bill calling on the Government to consider a taskforce “to increase effective use of robotics and automation, and reduce disparities …

Fintech regulation: a look back at 2022 and a look ahead to 2023

Back in February, I wrote a piece for Finextra titled, ‘For financial services, 2022 is a year of real regulatory possibilities. Through a series of events – impossible to have imagined at the time – Rishi Sunak, the then Chancellor is now the Prime Minister and the progress on fintech regulation I had hoped for …