Broadband

I want Cumbria to have the best super-fast broadband network in Europe. I don’t want to see any home left behind, which is why we, here in Fell End in Penrith and The Border, pioneered a community ‘build-and-benefit’ model, involving the community, government and the private sector, to create a replicable business case that means every remote area of the UK will be able to secure for themselves all the social and economic benefits that broadband offers. The primary obstacle to economic growth in Cumbria is isolation. Isolation has an enormous impact on both a business’ access to service provisions, and on its access to markets. For the first time in history, we have developed a technology which allows us to overcome this barrier, and nothing can consequently make a greater single contribution to Cumbria’s economy, growth, or services than broadband.

Show more

RESPONSE TO THE CHANCELLOR’S BUDGET STATEMENT

Rory has welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget Statement, which was delivered in the House of Commons this afternoon. Containing pledges on broadband, schools, health and the High Street, this Budget is the expression of Mr Hammond’s ‘balanced approach’, which seeks to combine steady economic stewardship with disciplined investment. It is, Mr Stewart said, […]

RORY WELCOMES INCREASED BROADBAND BOOST FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Rory has welcomed recent figures showing that rising superfast broadband coverage has boosted the national turnover of local businesses by £9 billion. Newly released figures published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport show that national superfast broadband coverage has now reached 95.39% while, in the North West, 96.31% of homes and businesses now have […]

RORY APPLAUDS BROADBAND PROGRESS ON BUSINESS VISIT

Rory visited Rutter Falls Self Catering Holiday Cottages on Saturday to discuss the business’ successful use of ultrafast broadband. Since his election in 2010, Rory has made increased broadband coverage a central priority and, to that end, he has consistently lobbied the government, councils and providers. One of the results of these efforts has been […]

RORY PROMOTES GIGABIT VOUCHER SCHEME TO PENRITH AND THE BORDER PARISHES

Rory is contacting all of Penrith and The Border’s parish councils to encourage them to take full advantage of the Government’s new Gigabit Voucher Scheme (GVS). The GVS, which was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Spring Statement, gives direct financial support to businesses and homeowners for the installation of new future-proofed […]

RORY WELCOMES NEW BROADBAND SCHEME

Today the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, announced the investment of £67 million in faster broadband. Vouchers worth up to £3000 and £500 will be provided to small or medium sized business and residents, respectively, by the Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to help cover the costs of connecting to full fibre broadband. […]

RORY MEETS CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL​’S NEW ​CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Penrith and The Border MP ​Rory Stewart ​has met with Cumbria County Council’s new Chief Executive, Katherine Fairclough​.​Rory Stewart MP said: “It was great to finally meet with Katherine​​ and discuss the challenges we need to overcome in Penrith and The Border​ – ​​particularly ​around ​the lack of reliable ​broadband​ – ​and our ​ideas and ambitions for the region​ and […]

RORY APPLAUDS ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ COMMUNITY BROADBAND SCHEMES

Rory Stewart MP has picked out two Cumbrian broadband schemes to be national models for community broadband – and is working with the Minister for Broadband to share the Cumbrian example across the country. Rory met residents in Milburn and Dufton, this week, who are behind two successful community broadband schemes, established to bring high-speed broadband […]

GOLD-STANDARD BROADBAND AND MOBILE BOOST FOR CUMBRIA – AUTUMN STATEMENT

Rory Stewart MP has welcomed the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, and in particular the over £1 billion of new investment in ‘gold-standard broadband’ and 5G mobile coverage,  both of which Rory believes will result in significant improvements to Cumbria’s hardest-to-reach homes and businesses. The investment will provide the world-class digital infrastructure that rural Britain needs, delivering improved […]

RORY LEADS FIBRE REVOLUTION IN ULLSWATER COMMUNITIES

Following his commitment at a Matterdale parish council meeting in 2015, Rory Stewart MP brought the managing director of the BT Group, Bill Murphy, to Watermillock Village Hall on Friday, to talk directly to local Ullswater communities about the options for delivering superfast broadband to the outlying properties and businesses in the various parishes around […]

SECRETARY OF STATE PRAISES RORY

Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport Sajid Javid has, on the occasion of formal confirmation of the broadband funding extension being granted to ensure that Cumbria continues to benefit from the Connecting Cumbria rollout, publicly thanked Penrith and The Border MP Rory Stewart for his efforts. Sajid Javid MP said today: “I am […]