The Liberal Democrats believe that Ofcom Openreach “reforms” leave millions with poor or substandard broadband.

BT’s Openreach division, which runs the UK’s broadband infrastructure, should become a distinct company within the BT group, according to regulator Ofcom.

Campaigners said the changes could not come soon enough for the millions of people who have suffered “woeful levels of service from Openreach”.

The media watchdog has resisted calls to split Openreach off entirely.

Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has criticised the watchdog Ofcom for “failing to bark” in not forcing BT to sell the division.

Tim Farron said: “It provides a poor service to customers and has been starved of investment. Giving more powers and investment to Openreach is certainly better than nothing but the crucial thing is it will leave millions of customers with poor quality broadband. That is unacceptable in the modern age when the government claims to be creating a digital economy.

“If a watchdog yet again fails to bark, perhaps it is time to put it down.”