Hague urges government to lay off the Internet

The UK government should refrain from over-regulating ecommerce and the Internet if it wants to ensure they both continue to develop successfully, according to William Hague, leader of the Conservative Party.

In an exclusive interview with Silicon.com, the leader of the opposition said: "We've got to make sure there's a balance in regulation but I think we should err on the side of freedom.

"I think one of the great things about the growth of the Internet is the freedom that it is giving people - the freedom for people to be able to work in a new way, the freedom to communicate with anyone in the world. And so we must cherish that freedom and not allow it to be trampled on by excessive government regulation."

Hague added that he feels passionately about creating the right surroundings for ecommerce to flourish. He said the UK has to offer the right environment, not only to bring in new business but to retain what is already in the country.

"The role of the government is to help equip individuals to do well in this new economy, but not to interfere so much that the government is in the way," he said.

Robin Duke-Woolley, principal consultant at Schema, agreed saying the government should not get involved in online regulation. "They should keep out of it. They want to be seen to be involved in the latest thing but they should get out of the way and let it happen," he said.

Jonathan Steel, chairman of research house the Bathwick Group, backed him up, saying: "Governments can't over-regulate. They need to allow the market and business models to develop."

Duke-Woolley also expressed concerned about IR35. He said: "Unless tax issues are changed people will either go to another country or just give up."

You can watch the 'News In View: IT in Opposition' video interview with William Hague in the Politics Channel (http://www.silicon.com/a36443 )