Election results in high-tech power vacuum

The influential All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) has been left with a power gap following the unseating of North East Milton Keynes MP Brian White in Thursday's general election.

White, a former IT systems analyst who acted as treasurer of the group, is one of two high-profile tech-savvy MPs to leave parliament in this election. Richard Allan, former Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, announced his decision to step down from politics in April, and has left his position as joint vice-chair of APIG.

Other APIG members fared better than White. APIG chairman Derek Wyatt scraped through the election with a paper-thin majority of 79 in his Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency. Group secretary Nick Palmer retains his Broxtowe seat and the other joint vice chair, Michael Fabricant, has held onto his Lichfield seat.

The question now is whether APIG will continue to play a role in key technology issues such as cybercrime, online safety and the digital divide.

Brian White, who will soon start looking for a new job, said: "The issues are there for whichever MPs wish to take them up."

"There are ID cards, intellectual-property rights, social inclusion and the digital society - the work will still be there but whether there will be the people ready to step up to the job remains to be seen," White added.

White said APIG member Ian Stuart, returning Labour candidate for Eccles, will be one name to watch. "He is not an IT person but he understands the issues," he said.

According to election results in so far, 33 APIG members have held on to their seats, four have been unseated and two have been replaced.

Matt Loney writes for ZDNet UK