Margot James being interviewed by Mark Owen
“Policing online content is going to become much more rigorous” Protecting the interests of long-standing retailers is enough of a responsibility, but add to it the fact that Ms James is also responsible for ensuring individuals are safe online and you get an idea of the scale of her task. The availability and visibility of people online have allowed for greater and easier communication, but it has also led to the scourge of online trolling. The digital industries have developed at such a pace that certain things have been left behind. None of us knew what Twitter was a decade or so ago, let alone knew how to comment on an Instagram photo or update our Snapchat feed. Social media is everywhere and anyone can use it, and do so anonymously – and therein lies a problem. Online trolling and abuse has become widespread and its one of the most pressing concerns for the minister to deal with. Traditional publishers are bound by defamation and
is not forthcoming.” While ensuring the big boys pay their share is one side of the argument, just as important is the ability to keep the smaller enterprises alive and encourage growth at a local level. And the minister believes that it's vital for those on the shop floor to keep hammering the message to those in power that more needs to be done to level the playing field. “Already, I know we have taken an awful lot of very small retailers out of business rates which is good,” Ms James added. “The issue is for the more medium companies. Supermarkets are very badly hit. It’s in inequity that I am aware of, but there is still some way to go in restoring that balance. “The FSB and the retail consortium do fantastic work and they need to keep the pressure on the government. “UK:DRIC is a really good innovation and one that has been very well thought out here in Gloucester. “It’s testimony to the Local Enterprise Partnership and the work of the retail trade here. It’s a terrific national resource that’s built on what Gloucester has done so far.”
July 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com | 11
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs