Kirstein Rummery

“The digital age needs to be for everyone, not just for people who live in cities and towns. We are increasingly relying on digital services to run our businesses, access our government, to study and stay in touch with our families. Many people in rural areas can’t access these benefits.

The Openreach (BT) target for fast broadband coverage is 95 per cent of properties connected by the end of 2017, but if you live in a town or city you are most likely part of that connected 95 per cent. If you live in a rural area you are much more likely to remain part of the disconnected 5 per cent. Even if you are connected this only means the cabinet your phone line goes to is broadband enabled: it doesn’t mean you are close enough to your cabinet to get broadband connection speeds.

If you live in a rural area you are much more likely to be too far from your nearest cabinet to actually get broadband speeds. Whole swathes of rural households and small businesses are therefore unable to get broadband internet speeds.

The Women’s Equality Party believe that equality is best for everyone, and so do I. Equality means every schoolchild being able to research their homework on a fast internet connection.

Equality means every small business and home worker being able to fully join in the digital economy.

Equality means everyone being able to work flexibly and look after their families.

Equal access to fast broadband means disabled people, elderly people, and carers can videocall their friends and relatives and can keep in touch with the whole world, even when they cannot get out of the house.

When I was recovering from PTSD and couldn’t work, broadband was my lifeline, my connection to the world.

I would like to make sure that people and small businesses in rural areas of Stirling don’t miss out on the benefits of the digital age that need fast broadband.”