As we move towards 2010 and an expected UK election in the first half of the year there is a feeling that the Internet and broadband connectivity will play a major role in election strategies and voting patterns. All major political parties in the UK are making more and more use of the ability to touch base with voters at the press of a button and we have seen a number of political blogs, political chat rooms and political forums hit the headlines.
While there is a dark side to politics and the Internet, as seen with the Labour Party debacle which allegedly saw a Labour supported blog spreading innuendo and gossip about other politicians, there is a feeling that the Internet is the modern day version of “knocking on voter’s doors”. At this moment in time it is unclear exactly how political parties will use the Internet to attract voters and to get their message across because ultimately one wrong move in the blogsphere could turn into disaster and literally lose thousands of voters!
It will be interesting to see who wins the battle of the Internet because ultimately it could play a major part in the result of the forthcoming general election.