Power to the people?
Hazel Blears criticized Gordon Brown for announcing new policies surrounding MPs expenses on YouTube.
The cabinet minister says such use of new media by politicians is far less effective than “old-fashioned campaigning”, arguing that the government has to appear more "human".
But with large parts of our lives now being spent on the internet – from research, job hunting and shopping to keeping in touch with friends, finding your soulmate or booking a holiday – does the world wide web not just offer another door to knock upon?
While there’s no denying that face to face interaction will always be a favoured medium of communication for most people – the internet allows politicians to be omnipresent, speaking to thousands of people in just one sitting.
Gordon Brown is certainly embracing social media, alongside his State side counterpart Obama, who releases a weekly video address on YouTube and frequently tweets on Twitter.
The Number 10 YouTube video channel states that “conversation, after all, should be a two-way process”, with a feature called ‘Ask the PM’, giving you the chance to post video questions to Gordon Brown on a regular basis.
The Number 10 e-petitions service is designed to help people communicate their thoughts on things that matter to them and their communities. But with twice as many people signing the online petition at Number 10 calling for Brown’s resignation than actually voted for Labour in the last election, how will the PM respond within that conversation?
Does inviting opinion online open whole can of worms? Or is the internet a blanket to hide behind? It’s worth remembering that Gordon Brown announced the cuts on MPs allowances on video as opposed to speaking to the Commons, where MPs can answer back.
Listening to the people certainly seems to be at the top of the political agenda as new plans announced by Gordon Brown will allow parents in England to potentially trigger council intervention in unsatisfactory local schools.
But listening is only one half of a conversation. It is how you respond that is the crunch point.
By inviting feedback, you must be prepared to respond to both the good and the bad.
It’ll be interesting to hear what they do say.