£6 broadband tax will be introduced before election

Digital Britain’s broadband tax on landlines will come into place before the next election, according to the treasury minister Stephen Timms.

Timms, who is in charge of implementing Lord Carter’s Digital Britain plan, said that a 50p a month charge on all UK phone lines will be in this year’s finance bill.

Speaking at a BCS conference in London today, Timms said: “My aim is that we should legislate for that this side of a general election.”

The levy would raise between £150 million and £175 million a year, which will go towards developing super-fast broadband over the next seven years, according to the minister.

However, the Conservatives are thought to be against the levy, which means the idea could be ditched altogether if they get in at the next election.

Although Timms remained adamant that he will “pass legislation before the election”.