This week, Britain’s communications minister Ed Vaizey announced £60,000 (US$98k) fund to support research into standards for 5G, the next generation of mobile networks. That’s a tiny figure compared with most other government and industrial efforts, but it could mark the start of the tech election campaign.

The money is going to the Spectrum Policy Forum (SPF), a discussion forum which will advise on future government policy in mobile networks. SPF was set up when Prime Minister David Cameron announced the UK’s Spectrum Strategy in March 2014, but now it has funding.

Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Vaizey said he was proud that “DMCS, which is a notoriously mean and tight department, has managed to find £60,000 to support this work”.

SPF is managed by techUK, an industry body which is carving out a role as a government advisor on tech policy - a role which was examplified last week by the launch of techUK’s “manifesto” for the industry - a set of policies the group wants to see from whichever party wins next year’s General Election.

Cross party agreement
techUK believes that technology will be a major factor in boosting Britain’s economy and reducing its deficit. The three major British political parties all came to the launch of the manifesto in London last week - and all of them agreed with the principles.

In this, technology is a different issue from other more contentious areas of policy. ‘The major parties mostly have very little idea about technology, but they each have tech experts, and these tend to agree on major points, and seem disposed to listen to others.

This is good news for the industry - though it does make technology a bit tame as an electioneering platform.
 

Vaizey’s support for SPF could  be seen as a first step towards delivering on the items requested by techUK. The entire manifesto includes a request for more support for tech skills development, and a better financial environment for UK startups. It also has a lot to say about the use of technology in the public sector - advocating better use of small suppliers, and greater sharing of open government data.

In opposition, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have less opportunity to show support for tech - but Labour has set up Labour Digital, a network of experts advising the party on what its priorities should be. It also commissioned a report on digital skills from Maggie Philbin, a former Tomorrow’s World presenter and an energetic advocate for tech education.

At techUK’s manifesto launch, Labour shadow minister for business Iain Wright (pictured above) promised action on skills and on making government active on behalf of tech.

Don’t forget immigration and IP
For the Liberal Democrats, Lord Clement-Jones (right) said all the parties are “singing from the same hymn sheet”, and promised support for skills and startup finance.

If there are issues that might divide the parties, they are digital inclusion - where Labour wants to use tech to reduce divisions in society, and immigration.

Lord Clement-Jones was the only one of the three to address the issue of immigration, where the needs of tech run conter to the knee-jerk politics of the two major parties. Labour and Conservatives are both chasing votes with tough talk, but the Liberal Democrats make the point that the technology industry needs smart people, whatever country they come from.

“We need smart migration,” said Lord Clement-Jones. In particular he warned that it is not in Britain’s interest to expel foreign students after they finish their studies, when they could be setting up businesses in Britain.

Lord Clement Jones also called for an enhancement of intellectual property laws, and made a passing (and approving) reference to the controversial TTIP international trade treaty.

It seems clear that tech - including data centers - will be a political issue in the coming year. With this level of agreement between the parties temperatures may not rise much, but the industry will need to keep an eye on what the politicians are up to.