Without focus and investment from government, we will lose the next great war of our generation: the digital one.

As an MP, I seem to have my finger in a lot of different pies!  I am a member of the DCMS Select Committee, I chair and sit on several APPGs, and I am the Chairman of the 1922 Foreign Affairs Policy Committee.

Without technological advances, I dare say, they would be nowhere near as effective or influential as they are now.

In another life, I was an actor.  I toured the globe, using our soft power status, and took British theatre to every corner of the world.  I used to write my screenplays on a typewriter and used an expensive rotary phone to call my family.  

I can do everything from my mobile!

Now, with advanced technology, I can do everything from my mobile!  

From responding to constituent queries to FaceTiming my wife and daughters back in the constituency. Technology is fantastic.

However, we seem to be seriously lacking in the tech department and are falling behind our competitors.

Key markets

I recently visited the Korean Peninsula with the DCMS SelectCommittee and saw the incredible technology at Samsung.  We are truly missing out on a key market here.

With China making great strides into the Commonwealth – and simply out-competing us in areas like digital investment – we need to show this family of nations that we still hold relevance and strength.  

All can see the fossil fuel stranglehold playing out during the current war in Ukraine.  

I fear that, without focus and investment from government, we will lose the next great war of our generation: the digital one.

Website: https://www.gileswatling.co.uk/