The Government must let Brighton bid for ultra-fast broadband under a new £100m scheme to create a network of super-connected cities (1), said Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas today.

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, announced last month that fourteen cities across the UK are being targeted for the ultra-fast broadband project (2).

The four capitals - London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast - will automatically qualify, with the rest being chosen through a competition. This is currently open only to the eight core cities and the UK cities that have more than 150,000 dwellings (3).

But Caroline said today that the importance of Brighton and Hove's flourishing digital sector to the local economy makes it an ideal candidate for the scheme - and that its 125,000 dwellings put it very close to the threshold.

She said:

"Our city is home to one of the biggest and most successful digital sectors in the UK. It's already growing three times faster than the national average and is delivering the majority of new local jobs.

"But if Brighton and Hove is to stay competitive and be a big digital player in the long term, we must be allowed to bid for some of the £100m put aside for the Government's ultra-fast broadband scheme.

"The city has the biggest cluster of digital business per head of population in the UK and a widely recognised digital alliance with Bristol and Manchester, so becoming a super-connected city is crucial to keep us at the forefront of the technology revolution."

The MP has written to the Culture Secretary to make the case for Brighton and Hove's bid, and is encouraging people in the city to join a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #LetBrightonBid to persuade him to support it.

Caroline concluded: "I hope Jeremy Hunt will listen to our appeal today and agree to my invitation to meet a delegation of local representatives from the digital economy, so he can hear for himself the strong case for a super-connected Brighton and Hove."

"I also hope that my fellow MPs will join me in calling on the Government to give the city a chance to stay connected in the 21^st century."

Jason Kitcat, Green Councillor and Cabinet member for Finance & Central Services, said:

"Brighton and Hove has become a buzzing new media hub, and in order for us to keep our position as an industry leader, we believe we should get a fair chance to bid for these next generation broadband services."

ENDS

Notes

1) http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8732.aspx

2) Ultrafast broadband is taken as being that with a retail headline access (download) speed of at least 80Mbps.

3) These are Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield.