Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/10/28/the_net_was_invented/

The Net was invented in Britain, says leading UK minister

What was that about an information underclass?

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 28th October 1999 13:42 GMT

Gordon Brown might know a thing or two about running the economy, but he knows sod all about the Internet. Despite boasting not one, but two, PCs in his office, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made an Al Gore-style (remember, he said he'd invented the Net) gaffe today that only serves to illuminate the dark voids of ignorance within Whitehall. Less than 10 seconds into his speech at the UK Internet Summit this morning he uttered: " Thirty years ago this month the Internet was invented in Britain." Invented in Britain? Come on Gordon, you cannot be serious. Ye olde Britain with its soon-to-be-culled hereditary peers and the finest mad cows this side of France? If any of our US readers would like to put the Chancellor straight -- or if you think the Net was indeed invented in Britain and you want to give Gordon your support -- why not e-mail him here. ®