Connecting with voters in the 21st Century

Maltheus is new to this blogging me lark but he is learning quickly. In his first blog post Maltheus seem to have inflamed 'Unthankroad' who made a statement to the extent that it was voters fault that they don't engage with political parties. Maltheus was under the impression that it was the other way round! - Sure, there needs to be engagement both ways but the leg work needs to be done by the parties and their supporters.

However, it is also true that parties can engage in a number of ways as Maltheus has already acknowledged. To that end Maltheus has investigated each of the four Norwich parties presense on the web. These are Maltheuses findings, if you wish to add anythign or correct me please do so as google isn't foolproof. As a benchmark Maltheus considers the ideal to be the South Norfolk website which includes a Youtube and online PDF documents.

Green

The Greens don't have any individual blogs that Maltheus can find of councillors. They do, however, have a very good website which outlines their activities and beliefs. They also have a dedicated section to the May 3rd elections, photos and profiles on all of their candidates and downloadable PDF's of their manifesto. We might expect this as they would claim to be reducing the carbon emissions, printing costs and tuna fishing in this move...

Maltheus also found a Facebook presense of two of the councillors. Cllr Rupert Read and Stevie Altman. You have to be careful on Facebook though as fall within a network and anyone can see what is posted on your wall an any other info. Did you know that he was in a group celebrating the 'Puppet Man' in Norwich? How very PC!

Green party also has a Facebook presense but only 8 members to date

Conservatives

Both of the city councillors have blogs, Eve seems to have trouble updating her blog as the last post was in Feb but past posts provide info about her role and actions. Anthony has a well established blog and blogs regularly on a mix of Norwich, Life and National issues. Maltheus also saw a innovative blog from the candidate John Wyatt which although not updated recently combines politics with gardening tips!

Norwich Conservatives have a good website which sets out the policies for the party and links in with the national agenda. It has a seperate section for the election which has the names and contact details of all candidates. It has a (At the moment) empty section on the policy for the elections (maybe taking the lead from National Conservatives?)

No Facebook presense that Maltheus could find but two groups - One on UEA Tories and the other 'Its time to make life better' which seems to be an unofficial Norwich Tory group.

Lib Dems

A detailed website which combines Simon Wrights website (Norwich S candidate) with press statements, contact details and other information about councillors. Simon has a blog and it links into the wider Norfolk Lib Dem community. He needs to update the blog with the last post on the 18th of March but this isa good source of info.

Simon has a Lib Dem presense on Facebook and there is a group for Norwich Lib Dems - but it is a private group so Maltheus can't join! Isn't openess supposed to be the byword for Lib Dems?

Labour

A poor attempt by labour on the techno front. No Norwich Labour party website. Ian Gibson has a good looking website which breaks down the issues which he works with in his constiuency surgeries and how to book a appointment. He also has a blog with the EDP but hasn't updated it all that recently.

Charles Clarke - Too busy with his 2020 vision website - hasn't the time to look after the little people who actually elected him and doesn't have a blog or website.

A YouTube presense though from a random guy in Norwich labour circles. Haven't seen him before and with 3 views to date (Since March) he is unlikely to get famous quickly!). It wouldn't load too quickly on Maltheus's comp so let me know what you think of it.

Someone has been a little bit sneaky too thinks Maltheus - Have a look at this website for both Labour MP's.