news story

16th February 2007

Local MP Takes Local Residents With Him Into Cyberspace

Northavon MP Steve Webb is continuing to lead the way in using modern technology to communicate with the whole range of his electorate. Building on his work in keeping in regular contact with over 5,000 constituents by e-mail, the MP has now launched his first "Blog" - an online diary of news and views, hot off the press and regularly updated.

Local residents can see what their MP has been up to and add comments of their own. The blog can be found via a link on the homepage of the MP's award-winning website, www.stevewebb.org.uk. The website also contains a link to a video film of the MP's recent Channel 4 political slot programme which includes Thornbury and Yate residents giving their views, and which was filmed in Yate.

In addition to the new blog, the MP has launched a presence on the young peoples' networking websites, MySpace and FaceBook. The two sites are widely used by hundreds of local young people to share news and to make new friends, and the MP is already building up networks of local residents who are keeping in touch through this route. Steve Webb can be found at: www.myspace.com/stevewebb1 and through a search on www.facebook.com.

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"My aim is to be available to the people I represent in the way that works best for them. If people prefer to come and see me, write a letter, or call the office, then I am happy to respond in that way. But if they spend time on the internet and prefer to e-mail, read a blog, or join an online network, then I need to make sure that I am equally accessible in that way as well.

"We already know that many younger people do not vote and think politicians are remote or irrelevant. I have to work hard to ensure that they are included in the work that I do".