"After almost nine years of sitting on its hands as evidence accumulated that the Commerce Act needed strengthening the Government has finally acted. But its response is ad hoc, confusing and inadequate," Labour commerce spokesperson Paul Swain said today.

Mr Swain was responding to the Government's planned amendments to the Commerce Act.

"I will be announcing Labour's competition policy tomorrow. Suffice to say Labour has a much more comprehensive regime in mind, and one which will offer much stronger protections to the consumer.

"I also serve notice to Max Bradford now that Labour will vote against his legislation unless he gives industry and the public the opportunity to make submissions on it before the select committee. His intention now is to fast track it.

"You would think Mr Bradford would have learned by now that to rush reforms through without adequate consultation is a recipe for disaster," Mr Swain said.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>