Tom Watson, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, responding to Mark Carney’s comments about new technology and the future of work in his Liverpool speech, said:

“Mark Carney is right to warn of the huge impact of technological change. Work is becoming more complex and uncertain, with machines doing jobs we thought only humans could do - but with new opportunities opening up as well. This is a challenge for all of us. Policymakers who don’t think seriously about the way work is changing as a result of automation and new technology are in danger of giving the wrong answers to the wrong questions about the future.

"That’s why I’ve set up Labour’s independent commission on the future of work. We want to engage with different sectors and look at what new policies are needed to keep up with the new era of technology-driven change.”

Ends

Notes to editors

•        Tom Watson has convened an independent commission on the future of work, co-chaired by Helen Mountfield QC – for more information please visit: http://www.tom-watson.com/fow  

•        The first evidence session of the commission will take place on Tuesday 13th December