A look at how Harrow and Brent politicians are using the Internet (From This Is Local London)

A look at how Harrow and Brent politicians are using the Internet

7:10am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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THE 2010 General Election looks set to be fought in cyberspace as well as on the doorsteps – and Harrow is no different.

Several candidates have begun embracing the power of the Internet to help bolster their support, putting out information to scores of their followers on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Labour MPs Tony McNulty and Barry Gardiner both started “tweeting” in February this year, and have since sent out a deluge of messages promoting their work and attacking political rivals.

Mr Gardiner yesterday posted: “Anyone know where I can download Cameron's vanity moment using the Sky camera as a preening mirror? Not so much airbrush as hairbrush.”

He also used the site announced today that Lord Mandelson is guest of honour at a fundraising dinner he is hosting tonight.

Tory hopeful Dr Rachel Joyce is a long standing user of Twitter, in contrast to sitting Labour MP Gareth Thomas, but focuses her writing more on her personal life than on politics.

A post from November 29 declares: “Sitting in a rain sodden traffic jam. Car's wheels almost covered!”, and she revealed on October 4 last year that a service station she visit had baked beans.

Dr Joyce has been keeping her readers informed of her battle to lose a stone in weight – raising money for charity - via Twitter, her Facebook page, and her well-established blog.

Since her 2007 selection as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Tories in Harrow West, Dr Joyce has written about a vast array of subjects ranging from the state of the NHS - her specialist subject - to racism and the economy.

While much of her blog's content is nationally-focused, and many posts revolve around Tory Party policy, she leads the way among her local rivals for internet content.

Martin Francis, the Green Party's candidate in Brent North, is following her footsteps, with a regularly updated and well-informed blog called Wembley Matters which discussed events and issues in Wembley and surrounding areas.

He recently use the blog to attack rival candidate and former Conservative Councillor Atiq Malik, who is standing as an Independent in Brent North, accusing his posters of resembling “something from the BNP”.

While Cllr Malik has set up a Twitter account in his name, he has to engage fully engage with the medium having not posted any messages.

While the power of the Internet can not be fully quantified, it no doubt carries many benefits for candidates in elections.

It has been used to devastating effect in campaigns across the world – notably in the US – for raising funds, promoting political messages, and exposing rivals' failures.

It remains to be seen as the fight for Parliamentary seats in Harrow and Brent hots up what the Internet will contribute to the campaigns.