Tories don't have a Facebook which fits making friends - News - Evening Standard
       

Tories don't have a Facebook which fits making friends

After getting hammered by his own party, it now seems Tory leader David Cameron can't even make new friends.

A survey reveals today the Conservatives are the worst party for making friends on the internet.

The survey, albeit from a Liberal Democrat MP, reveals 40 per cent of his party's MPs have joined social networking website Facebook, compared with just 13 per cent of Labour and 12 per cent of Tories.

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Politicians are slow to use online sensation Facebook for making pals

Among those being 'poked' in cyberspace is Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who has more than 2,000 online 'friends' linked to his profile.

The study, by the Liberal Democrat MP Steve Webb, also showed his party's voters are most likely to be using the popular site.

Around one in 67 Lib Dem party members is signed up, compared with one in 105 Tory members and one in 130 Labour party members.

Mr Webb said: "Young people are far less likely to vote than their parents and grandparents, yet many of them have strong views on local and national issues and want their voice to be heard.

"Social networking sites such as Facebook provide an ideal way for this conversation to take place.

"The Liberal Democrats believe that elected representatives should be easy to reach, which is why a far higher proportion of Lib Dems are available through sites such as Facebook than their Labour or Tory counterparts.

"David Cameron makes a lot of fuss about his use of the internet, but it's clear that behind the facade the rest of his party is lagging a long way behind."

Mr Webb, who has 1,000 friends on the site, said it provided a useful tool to help him communicate with younger voters.

He said: "It's been really useful as a way of enabling them to raise issues with me - bus fares is the number one concern - and most of them are really positive about me being on there."

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