unicornnews: New MPs more social media savvy

So, the election campaign has begun and, while it seems far too close to call with regards who might be forming the next government come May, what we do know is there will be a whole new generation of MPs taking seats in parliament this summer, with a large number of new parliamentarians expected to be voted in, if only because so many existing MPs have chosen to step down following a tricky twelve months for the political class.

And that could have an impact on the way the political community communicates with the electorate. PR firm Fishburn Hedges and researchers ComRes spoke to 100 new parliamentary candidates who seem likely to win a seat in the Commons on 6 May, and found – perhaps unsurprisingly – that digital platforms and social media are already much more important as communication channels for these future MPs.

83 of those interviewed are already using Facebook as a key communication tool, while 50 were also on Twitter. 84 said that Facebook, Twitter and blogs would play an important part in the way they communicate with constituents if they win at the election, while 82 said they expected to treat contacts made via social networks with the same importance as a formal written letter.

Fishburn Hedges Associate Director Simon Redfern told reporters: “A lot of new candidates have really embraced social media tools and talk to their constituents using these channels. But what’s good for the campaign may not work as well in power. [But] new candidates are innovating with the tools available. You only have to look at Charlie Elphicke’s (Conservative, Dover) use of Chat Map, Chuka Umunna’s (Labour, Streatham) YouTube channel and Stella Creasy’s (Labour, Walthamstow) Facebook page to see how modern political campaigning is changing”.

Posted Friday April 16 2010 by Chris Cooke

Related categories: Political Communications Social Media