The Twittering Politicians: A Symbol of the Wider Loss of Confidence in Politics

Strategic Insights -

In a disturbing trend, dozens of politicians in the UK have taken to Twitter to connect with their constituents, showcasing their personalities and intimate lives. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and other high-profile individuals like Boris Johnson, Nick Clegg, and Alastair Campbell, are all active on the social networking site, often revealing mundane details about their daily lives. However, their attempts to appear relatable and "in touch" have fallen flat, revealing a lack of substance and a desperation to be seen as youthful and modern.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Labour Party has issued guidance to its MPs on how to use Twitter, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a personal and relatable online presence.
  • UK politicians, including the Prime Minister, are using Twitter to connect with their constituents and showcase their personalities, often with mixed results.
  • The use of Twitter by politicians has been interpreted as a symbol of the wider loss of confidence in politics, with many leaders lacking the moral energy to tackle the country's economic crisis.
  • According to a report by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, targets and audits can be "the enemy of innovation" in the public services, reinforcing a culture of caution and a lack of experimentation.
  • The politicians are competing to recruit outsiders to their causes, with Labour having Sir Terence Conran as a business ambassador and the Tories having Carol Vorderman as a maths czar.
  • The use of independent reviews and external experts is seen as an attempt to delay decisions and pass the buck, undermining trust in the politicians.
  • The Economic and Social Research Council will argue that the fall in voter turnout is due to the conduct of politics, with politicians offloading decisions to others and lacking the moral energy to govern effectively.
  • A speech by Michael Gove, the Tory education spokesman, described politics as "depleted of moral energy, our whole system which looks worm-eaten and decayed."

Statistics:

  • There are six million users of Twitter worldwide, with its audience having surged 1,000 per cent in the past year.
  • Barack Obama's Twitter account has over 265,000 followers.
  • The Twitter account of Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, has been used to reveal that he is "snowed under with paperwork."
  • The Treasury has had 43 independent reviews since Labour came to power, emphasizing the attempt to delay decisions and pass the buck.

Sources:

  • Oliver James, psychologist, in an unnamed publication.
  • Michael Gove, Tory education spokesman, in a speech last night.
  • Report from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.
  • Economic and Social Research Council.
  • Chris Mullin, in his recently published diaries.
  • Tweetminster website.
  • Downing Street website.
  • Various unnamed Twitter accounts of politicians.