Johnson ‘breaking pledge to give all fast broadband’
BORIS Johnson was last night accused of ditching a vow to boost broadband before the highest price rise in 30 years.
The 2019 Tory manifesto promised to bring “full fibre and gigabitcapable broadband” to every home and business by 2025.
But within months, Johnson quietly replaced it with a pledge to provide “a minimum of 85%” of homes with gigabit broadband by then. Now the Liberal Democrats have claimed he is failing to meet even his own watered-down target.
Only one in eight constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales had 85% or more gigabit broadband heading into 2022. Meanwhile, in one in six areas, fewer than 10% of homes could access gigabit broadband.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Again, Boris Johnson breaks his promises.” Broadband costs are set to soar in April, with many bills going up by 9.3%.