MPs and blogging
Posted by Ellee on Jun 8, 2007 in updates | 29 comments
I shall be contacting all our MPs who are blogging shortly and questioning them about the reasons why they started and their personal experiences, if thy feel it has helped improve two-way communication. I’m also interested to know whether they feel it could mean the end of political spin.
It is a research project I have chosen for my CIPR diploma in Public Relations. I wondered if you read any MPs’ blogs, which ones you prefer and why.
Do you have any idea the total number who are blogging? Why not hazard a guess, I’ll tell you how close you are.
Thanks Dave, Nice to hear from you. It would have been useful to know of your site when starting my research. I have just completed my assignment, hope to have it printed and bound tomorrow. I have added you to my blogroll and will check out your posts.
Ellie,
I’ve just found this post. I know I’m coming to this a bit late, but I thought you might be interested in my web site Planet Westminster (http://mp.theplanetarium.org/) which aggregates all of the MP blogs that I can find. If you know of any that I am missing, then please let me know.
Philipa, I know you have a soft spot for Boris, I can understand why. Thanks for putting me in touch with Melissa.
BTW: my fave political blog is Boris-Johnson.com, none can compare.
> Ellee, why not just have a giant party, [of the celebrating kind]
Now that’s a good idea! I see that the Paris bloggers (q.v. Petite Anglaise) had one recently, I was tempted to go!
Between 0 and 646 MPs are currently blogging…
Ellee
Just so that you are aware. I have been looking at doing some blog interviews for a few weeks, so you may meet an overlap occasionally. There shouldn’t be a problem as our objectives are a little different:
“I would like to do email interviews with pairs of political bloggers – to explore different ways of using blogs in the political process. I’m looking for anyone interested in taking part.
The interviews would consist of about a dozen short questions, and be presented side by side to shows contrasts and similarities between different approaches to political blogging. I’m interested in all varieties of political blogging, but especially in the use of blogging for local politics.”
See page on my link.
There shou
41? is that all there is? My God they’re missing a trick. I would have said it was a couple of hundred for Westminster alone. Blimey.
Nadine, thank you, I will be in touch.
The answer to my question is: I have found 41, including the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.
Well Ellee, since we all know how much time blogging takes, I would hazard a guess that there can’t be too many. Do you think there are some who have “ghost bloggers” doing it for them?
Sounds like a good topic for a thesis.
My blog site is updated almost every day! Anything I can do to help Ellee, let me know – Nadine
Its hard to guess 150 or so? How many have websites which they use though? Loads of MPs websites are only updated very 18months…
That really famous one comes to mind… but the name totally escapes me. Not Perez Hilton (don’t think so …) this is a Brit MP he gets into all sorts of trouble … I’ve read a few MPs blogs but most of them were too middle of the road and dull. Towing the party line. Ukk.
Have a great weekend!
I write stuff on Boris Johnson’s blog and John Redwoods blog.
Boris’s blog I like being it’s popular, often attracts lots of comments, and teh quality of comments is high. His forum is cool too, with lots of interesting banter between a blog regulars. I also like it because it’s Boris’s and he’s my favourite MP.
John Redwoods blog is more of a blog than Boris’s, which basically just publishes his Telegraph and Spectator articles. He replies to commenters regularly as well. I also like the fact that he doesn’t just talk waffle, but treats his readers like intelligent people and tackles difficult subjects.
Blogging with MP’s is great fun, I’m surprised it isn’t a lot more popular.
According to Iain Dales links list there are 15 blogging MP’s, I wonder if he’s missed a few?
thirty seven?
Well, we’re clicking on you but I think it needs more. Come on, Ellee readers!
Michael, I would be interested to know how many Congressmen/women are currently blogging.
Lee, the same goes for you in Australia.
Philipa, thanks, will do.
I can’t comment on the UK…I know of only one here in Australia, but I must research it, now that you mention it.
Ellee thanks for your kind comments.
I might be able to help you with this, if you drop me an email? Archiving is making my shoulders ache and I’m not sure my heads reliable just now, so can you remind me? Many thanks.
What a fascinating question to come across. I’ve decided to submit a low ball bid of 42.
All parties.
Ah, in that case, I’d say 250-300.
I think the Labour party have been slower in getting to grips with blogging than the other parties.
I wonder if Ian Paisley has a blog?
Or Prescott?
That should be really interesting research, Ellee. Assuming you mean MPs across all parties, I’ll guess 300.
Simon, Don’t leave it too long, especially as it runs over the summer hols. I’m really looking forward to researching my project. Good luck with yours.
Ha! We might need to swap unpublished data, Ellee. I’m planning to look at political bloggers influence on the mainstream news agenda! When I get around to starting that is!
Ellee, why not jsut have a giant party, [of the celebrating kind] and invite them all to it. They’d jump at the chance. I would.
Q9, yes, I do mean ALL MPs. Neither answers are right. I shall keep you guessing until Sunday.
I guess the only problem for MPs, is they cannot use blogging for genuine debate.
Get too many irate or rabid people with too much vile bile they want to spill, drowning any real public debate on policy & issues.
But what is an issue nowdays?
The G8 promising two years ago $50 billion by 2010 to combat poverty – and increasing that to $60 yesterday – only to discover they are still far short (by $20 or £30 billion) of meeting their last target?
The NHS overspending on budgets in one place whilst making £800 million savings in another. Who can sort out the chaos of what or who gets treated whilst you have artificial ‘pricing’ and or artificial priorities?
Shouldn’t we first set the target of what we AIM to achieve and then cost it and find the means to fund it – but that’d ne toooo easy!
I presume you mean throughout all parties. There could be more than we think.
Probably about 125.
Out of 198?
80 odd?