Last year Twitter was ‘discovered’ by celebs and became their new favourite way to ‘talk’ to the little people*.  Now politicians are getting in on the act – it’s not really surprising, they are a bit like celebs, only with mostly unflattering hairstyles. In fact thinking about it, politics is a bit like the embarrassing uncle or aunt who turn up at celebrity’s birthday party and try to impress everyone with their performance of that dance from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. But I digress …

I have a few thoughts about the influx of that would-be trendy Westminster crowd:

1) You know how there are those odd people who throw themselves at celebrity tweeters**? Are we going to see that happening but to politicians? I really hope not. The thought of anyone tweeting something like ‘ooh, Dave your shiny, pink face makes me all hot and bothered’  to @davidcamereron is more than my stomach can take.

An even more appalling thought is that someone might get a bit frisky with Anne Widdecombe sending her into a frenzy, and she’ll then start screeching (to anyone who’ll listen) about her conviction that Twitter is a hot bed of sin and debauchery. Even worse than that, is the thought that she might respond positively to her admirer …

2) This is a serious point. When politicians are only a tweet away they’re more accessible, well, in theory. And not only do we have an almost immediate way to tell them what we think, they have the chance to hear a wider range of views. A lot of people have strong opinions about various issues, but don’t get around to writing a letter,  or sending an email to express them. Tweeting is a lot quicker, so I think more people will contact them.

3) We get to find out which is the friendliest party. Which follow back and which are just there to collect numbers. Who engages with their followers, and who just preaches about how great their policies are.

I made a very, very small start on that: so far I’m following Tom Watson, Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and John Prescott. Prescott is not following me back, I’m not sure if I should be relieved or insulted.

Anyhoo, I decided to draw up a league table for them.

As you can see, Labour are leading the table in my study (which is completely scientific if tiny, and only composed of two parties) due to the efforts of Tom Watson (well worth a follow!) Messrs Clegg*** and Cable tie for second, while Mr Prescott is propping them all up. Oh dear.

To be completely fair, I suppose I should follow more, and probably Tories too. Hmm. I’ll get on to that and report back with my findings.

* No, not hobbits, I mean us, the great unwashed.

** Because one day Ashton Kutcher is so going to leave Demi Moore and run to the waiting arms of @mabelscroggins in Basingstoke.

*** One of the few politicians who doesn’t have unflattering hair. Compare him to Cameron and Brown; one looks like he uses the same barber as his dad, the other like he’d only get a haircut if his wife told him to.

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