Brave New World

My favourite online election related diversions thus far have to be www.voteforpolicies.org.uk * and the infamous spoofing of David Cameron’s airbrushed poster campaign. I may not be a labour sympathiser but ‘www.mydavidcameron.com | Airbrushed for change’ is a perfect illustration of the power of social media. So popular was the spoofing that it gave Labour’s ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi the idea to launch a competition inviting supporters to devise creative for the next poster campaign. The winning idea featured David Cameron sitting on the bonnet of an Audi Quattro above the headline 'Don't let him take Britain back to the 1980s’. Within 24hrs the Tory party’s ad agency hit back releasing the same image with the headline ‘Fire Up The Quattro. It’s time for change.”

Like Obama’s presidential campaign last year, our general election is part of the information superhighway, political news is open to commentary and criticism and social medial is blazing the campaign trail. Proceed with caution however, at this speed the stakes are high and it’s easy to see how quickly seemingly good ideas can back fire once they are in the public domain. On the campaign trail managing your online reputation is as important as hiring the best spin doctors and speech writers. Woe betide the hasty politician who sends out an ill conceived blog or tweet in the last few weeks before election day.

The good news is that if we are all involved in the debate, we can all be part of the solutions we so desperately need. This country needs a good shake and if this brave new digital era is equipped to do anything it’s to force the establishment to think and respond in ways they would never have imagined back in May 2005.

* my results will remain a mystery to everyone but me and my therapist so don’t bother asking!