Q&A: Derek Wyatt, Member of Parliament in the British Government - March 2006  

This month, S&T speaks to British Labour MP Derek Wyatt, who was first elected to the House of Commons for the new constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey in north Kent in May 1997. He was re-elected in June 2001 and again in May 2005. Derek was formerly Director of The Computer Channel at BSkyB and is the founder and Chairman of the All Party Internet Group at Westminster, among other roles.

What is your role in terms of technology on behalf of the UK public?

“On the IT side, I founded and chair the All Party Internet Group. Actually, [UK radio station] Five Live says that I am the fastest e-mailer in the West – based on a competition where constituents had to send an e-mail to an MP to see who got the fastest response, and it was from me. And that wasn’t even on a Blackberry. I’m quick at replying to e-mails. I’m also chairman of the Olympic Committee in the House, I’m trying to see what legacy we will leave the Olympic movement after 2012. There are a lot of people building the thing, but not enough people looking at what we give back. I am also chairman of the All Party Rugby Group and, like the Internet Group, have been doing that for nine years. By and large, on the Rugby side, we have been instrumental in getting all the parties concerned connected – whether it be for the RFU or Premier League Rugby or so on. We also worked with Japan on their 2011 Rugby World Cup, to help the event go there, but unfortunately it went to New Zealand. It’s a shame as if it had gone to Japan, it would have unlocked China and India for the sport and made it global, and that’s what we want. We are going to talk to them soon about bidding for 2015 instead.”

Have there been any crossovers in your duties on the internet side and the sports side yet?

“Not yet, although on the Olympics side there are a lot of security companies interested in being involved and they will be demonstrating their new technologies to us soon. It’s clear that the ticket will have to double as a security pass and fulfil certain parameters.”

Is that the sort of technology that excites you?

“It is, because you will also need it for stadia anyway. We wouldn’t want another repeat of the 1972 Olympics. Security is always going to be foremost from now on.”

How has the internet had an impact on the government?

“I think there are about 10 MPs and 15 Peers who really do get technology now, which is not many out of the 1,300 who are in the building. But for me, the biggest change has been though my website. I started with a website because I was told I needed one, but I didn’t really understand what it was. Then I didn’t like it, pulled it down and put up a second one with lots of whizzy stuff, but it was completely useless and still didn’t have what I wanted. Finally, it has been built to look how I want it to look and work. We have had a record number of visitors this week, 59,000 hits and a readership of 8,200, which is my highest ever. That’s more than two of the three weekly newspapers in circulation in my constituency in terms of reach. My constituents often e-mail me to ask how I am going to vote on certain issues. I average about 100 e-mails from constituents a day; whereas in 1997, if I got one a week I was surprised, although I did get more letters of course then.”

Would you say therefore that technology in general has helped you in your job?

“I think it has brought us closer together, but unfortunately it does create what I call ‘Me politics’ and that’s not what I am here for. I have to be careful not to lose votes by entering arguments in an e-mail – which then of course might get sent around. Mind you, I still prefer the debate than not hearing from anyone at all! You can’t win everything, but what is important is that I have read it quickly and responded as quickly as I can, even if I don’t agree with the view. The problem with e-mails though is that they can be chatty rather than serious, so we have found a designer who has created e-mail ‘headed’ House of Commons notepaper so that our e-mails look more formal when they go out.”

How do you think that technology has enhanced sport?

“Phenomenally. On one end, what sports goods manufacturers such as Nike and Adidas have done is incredible. And at the other, digital photography, for example where you can go to a thousandth of a second in swimming instead of a tenth is incredible. The photo finish was actually introduced by the British at the 1948 Olympics.”

Are you pleased with how technologically advanced rugby has become as a sport?

“Indeed. We have had Reflink for years which is pioneering. We’ve also got the video referee which is very helpful. Sir Clive Woodward [former England Rugby Union coach] set the paradigm in 2003, and the other sports are now catching up.”

Do you think a third umpire in soccer would spoil the game?

“Not at all. I remember that being said about cricket umpiring. I remember being sent to interview some cricket umpires when I worked for the Mail on Sunday in 1984 and ask them why they couldn’t look at television screens for decisions. It was like some 18th century argument! Now that’s been accepted and we even have cameras in the stumps. Cricket has done that well – mostly thanks to Kerry Packer, who revolutionised the sport.”

What are you views on analogue switch-off in the UK?

“Analogue switch-off will take place in 2012 in the south-east of England which I think is a mistake as it should have been first in my opinion. The south-east is the engine room for the rest of the UK economy. I tried to persuade the parties involved in the decision that Wales first was not a good idea. Whatever happens, around £5bn worth of analogue spectrum will be freed up and the government will enjoy spending that, whoever is in power then. How the spectrum should be divided up and used still needs to be discussed.”

Finally, what are you thoughts on the future?

“I think that 'broadcasting' is going to be over and that it is all going to become 'narrowcasting'. The idea that you have a television set already seems out of date. The wireless environment at home is going to become increasingly important. There will a fight between the PlayStations, XBoxes and IPods to become the hub in the home. I’m beginning to think that thinner technology is what we want to have on our bodies or in our homes and so what is needed now is a revolution in server technology.”

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