It seems that a few MPs have web logs. I came across Clive Soley's (RSS) a few weeks ago (and couldn't resist diving in to the tuition fees debate despite not living in Sheperd's Bush). I've just followed links from there to Tom Watson's (MP for the confusingly named West Bromwich East, apparently the first blogging MP RSS) and Richard Allen (MP for Sheffield Hallam, with a note on the front page at the moment about patent madness - good to know there's someone on the inside with some understanding RSS).
Interesting stuff. Jean Corston, as far as I know, doesn't have one.
Comment spam aside, a weblog seems to me an excellent way of presenting your views to and collecting input from (well educated, well heeled, tech savvy ...) constituents. That parenthetical comment might be alleviated a little, too, by efforts such as those in Easton of Bristol Wireless. Jean Corston is pretty good at responding to comments, although the (presumably procedural) need to reply on paper slows things down rather and doesn't encourage conversation. It seems to me that a constituent might reasonably ask to be kept abreast of their MP's views on matters of current debate, in order that they can enter into some meaningful debate with that person. A set of undifferentiated votes, in any case at least partly based on national mood and the popularity of the candidate's party, every 4-5 years is certainly not enough information for an MP to base an assessment of their constituents views.
Perhaps I should write and suggest blogging …
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