The digital economy bill is misnamed. A more honest title for the legislation, recently introduced in the Lords, would be the copyright protection and punishment bill. It is less about creating the digital businesses of the 21st century than protecting the particular 20th century business models used in music and film.

The bill is narrow in vision but dangerously broad in creating sweeping ministerial powers to punish digital pirates. It boils Digital Britain down to three Ms ??? media, music and movies ??? myopically ignoring the pioneers of new technology, and showing a blind spot for all creativity outside the so-called creative industries.

This Bill is more about pandering to Mandy’s mates than with creating opportunities in Britain’s Digital future. It’s bad news.