What Will MP’s Do With Their Blogs and Websites During a General Election
A number of MP’s are blogging, and quite rightly so – it’s a great way to get a connection back to your constituents without anyone getting in the way (the Press, the Whips Office, or your local constituency party), but it carries a danger that could bite some users in the tail. Let me show the problem.
It looks like Kerry McCarthy (www.kerrymccarthymp.org/) has a problem, while Mark Lazarowicz (www.marklazarowicz.org.uk) doesn’t. Those using Twitter may also have the same problem. Andy Reed (@andyreedmp) has it, but Jo Swinson (@joswinson) doesn’t
Spotted it yet?
It’s the “MP” bit. You see, once a general election is called, part of the deal is that any Members of Parliament looses their status, and can no longer be called, filed, stamped, indexed or deep linked using the MP moniker.
I wonder just how well these Web 2.0 Engaged MP’s are ready to change their websites, templates, links, references and archived history in their online world? Or are their IT people ready to bill them for a lot of overtime?
A good point…but I doubt most will continue blogging after they lose their seats. It would be interesting to see if there is a relationship between their use of ‘mp’ and their majority.
From experience, I think you will find that MPs will either take down their website or, as in most cases (including with at least one you mention above), they will transfer to a blog that doesn’t have the “MP” title in it and keep the other one in stasis for after the election.
There are usually plenty of briefings about what you can and can’t do as an incumbent MP during an election set up by Parliament before the election is called.
Also to be taken into consideration is whether any funding for the site comes from the communication allowance or other Parliamentary funding.