The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated that Westminster and Whitehall need to improve their utilization of existing resources to effectively manage artificial intelligence.
On BBC's Question Time, Darren Jones stated: "We possess the necessary resources, but we need to update and modify how the Government and Parliament function in order to match the speed of technological advancements."
He mentioned a "challenge of speed" that legislators are dealing with.
However, Mr. Jones also stated, "I believe I am fully capable of utilizing laws and regulations in a manner that encourages innovation, benefits the economy and public services, and simultaneously safeguards the interests of British citizens."
The UK Parliament approved the Crime and Policing Act earlier this year.
Within it, the Government gained a new, adaptable authority to modify the Online Safety Act 2023 in order to address AI bots generating content that may be unlawful.
Conservative shadow Home Office minister Lord Davies of Gower described this as "the mother of all Henry VIII powers" – a reference to a process that enables ministers to amend sections of the law without requiring a new bill.
He mentioned that it carries "broad constitutional consequences" and stated, "Ministers will now have the ability to modify the entire Online Safety Act 2023 according to their preferences."
The legislation also imposed a restriction on creating, altering, or providing nudification tools, which can produce so-called deepfake explicit images of actual individuals without their permission.
Mr. Jones stated, "Technology is advancing rapidly, while the process by which our democracy enacts laws is quite sluggish."
The Act on Crime and Policing was presented to the House of Commons near the end of February 2025, yet it only came into effect at the conclusion of April this year – a period of 14 months.
"The previous administration managed to pass the first significant legislation under the Online Safety Act, but it took eight years to complete," Mr. Jones added.
He later stated, "One of the actions we've had to take is granting the Technology Secretary (Liz Kendall) legal authority ahead of discussing potential future changes, allowing her to pass legislation more swiftly instead of waiting eight years for new laws to be enacted."
Mr. Jones previously stated that the UK should make a "significant investment" in new and developing technologies to enhance "employment opportunities, wages, and public services in the coming years."
He also stated, "In the United States, you essentially let the damage occur and then file a lawsuit against someone, with the legal system determining the outcome."
In the European Union, they attempt to forecast the results, and in reality, manage this area quite poorly, ultimately preventing innovation from taking place.
What the UK excels at is creating laws aimed at results and solid regulation – 'these things should not harm children'.
If you are offering a healthcare service, it must be grounded in solid evidence to ensure you are not harming the patient.
Conservative shadow technology minister Julia Lopez, who also appeared on the show, cautioned that "Labour is raising the cost of hiring workers, it's increasing energy expenses, so that these tech firms can't establish themselves here."
She added, "It's causing regulatory ambiguity."
It is performing poorly in implementing AI within the government, leading to rising government costs - there are 8,000 more civil servants under Labour than before.
Ms. Lopez also stated, "You can't ignore this technology, but you can work to establish a robust ecosystem within this country."
And I believe that, regarding these fundamental principles, Labour is making many mistakes.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir stood by his stance on artificial intelligence.
In a Substack article, he stated: “Far from being left behind in AI, Britain is leading the way.”
This is not just talk. Britain is acknowledged by the top figures in the field as an emerging and independent AI power.
He highlighted funding for data centers in Loughton, Essex, and Blyth, Northumberland, as proof of a broader national commitment to technology.
"It's enhancing our public services, especially the NHS," he stated.
As we shape this future, we are implementing actions that enhance our independence, ensuring we are leaders in AI regulations, not just following them.
It's about putting our values into practice, once more. Rather than simply enduring our economic situation, we're proactively defining what's ahead. Gaining control. Realizing the full potential of the entire nation.
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