Political apathy maintained online

Kable

Published: 25 Feb 2005 10:40 GMT

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Online politics is yet to capture the attention of the nation despite widespread use of the internet and email, according to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESCR).

With a general election perhaps weeks away, the study says MPs and legislatures are failing to take advantage of new forms of communication to combat voter apathy. Technology has so far failed to bring citizens any closer to Parliament or politicians as interest in politics in Britain remains flat.

The study, released on 23 February 2005, was led by Dr Stephen Ward of the Oxford Internet Institute, supported by Wainer Lusoli of Salford and Rachel Gibson of the Australian National universities. It was based on an NOP survey of almost 2,000 people in December 2004

Among its findings were that:

• 40 percent of internet users visit news and current affairs Web sites, compared with 28 percent who look up their local council, and 21 percent who go online to government departments and agencies;
• only 5 percent have visited the House of Commons Web site in the past year, while a combined 3 percent called at those of the devolved legislatures of Wales and Scotland;
• 39 percent of people prefer to contact their MP by telephone, with 20 percent writing letters, 12 percent sending emails and 11 percent choosing face-to-face contact;
• there is a swing towards email as an initial means of contact, especially for 18 - 34 year olds, particularly students (37 percent) and graduates (20 percent);
• only 69 percent of those surveyed claimed to know the party of their MP, while less than half (43 percent) were actually able to name them.

Ward said: "Our survey provides a sobering antidote to the hype that often surrounds the role of the internet in the political world, but we shouldn't write off new technologies as being of no consequence.

"The findings show there is potential to attract and deepen engagement, particularly among younger people. Simply adding new electronic means of communication to old structures, or providing information online, will not automatically spark interest."

"Publicising and marketing online initiatives might be a start, but politicians and institutions need to actively attract people outside the usual suspects by demonstrating that their contribution is valued and listened to. Without that, the danger remains that e-politics will simply exacerbate the current situation by amplifying those voices already prominent in the parliamentary system."

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