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Friday, February 25, 2005

Hansard Society Blogging Project

Here are a few points that came up at the conference today.

Should council officers and civil servants be encouraged to start blogs covering their areas of work? could this cause problems for them? I said I thought it was a good idea and the only problem would be if they strayed into the political policy area.

The two US visitors have a useful site: http://www.northfield.org and described how they felt it enabled the community to have a stronger voice.

I raised a question that has been in my mind for a while. Could politicians have time limited blogs on specific issues between elected representatives in the UK or overseas?

For example, an exchange between British and Indian MP's on problems affecting investment in India/Britain. There are very strong links as a result of our shared history but there are few formal links on specific issues of this type. Or between Britain and Malaysian MP's on illegal logging in Indonesia which ends up coming to Britain via Malaysia.

Could MP's and councilors have time limited blogs on specific issues, eg, the proposal for a tram down the Uxbridge Road which links several councils and constituencies?

There were several other issues that came up but I've just got home and my brain has come out on unofficial strike!

"""Should council officers and civil servants be encouraged to start blogs covering their areas of work? could this cause problems for them? I said I thought it was a good idea and the only problem would be if they strayed into the political policy area."""

They might be better off doing it anonymously, like this policeman does:
http://coppersblog.blogspot.com/

Hi Clive, good to meet you last week.

I've blogged our discussion about this at:
http://www.wigleyandassociates.com/2005_02_01_archive.html#110958044919466360

I'll get back you on your idea after I return to the states and recuperate!