Taking a leaf out of the book of the famous 17th-century diarist, Coun Stuart Bruce (Lab, Middleton) has become the first councillor in the country to publish his own weblog – an online diary. Although many councillors and MPs have standard websites, Coun Bruce is the first to publish an online diary of his working life as a councillor.
Blogging is one of the fastest growing areas of the internet with thousands of people regularly recording their thoughts and actions in a diary style, but Coun Bruce says he is the first local politician in the UK to do so.
He said: "I suppose it's a political risk, revealing one's thoughts and actions in public. But I think my constituents have a right to know what I am doing on their behalf. I try to be as open as possible because that's the only way people will believe in it and return to it regularly."
Coun Bruce, 35, added the blog to his traditional website at www.middletonpark.org.uk as a way of improving the way he keeps in touch with voters. He said: "It's great to get feedback and email back from people who read the weblog. Often it gives a different insight into what people think."
He understands a West Midlands councillor has now followed his lead, adding: "In two or three years it could replace traditional leaflets and newsletters as the main way politicians keep in touch with their electorate. But first there are important challenges, such as tackling the digital divide and making sure everyone can access the internet. Labour in Leeds is taking the lead by ensuring local libraries give free internet access, where anyone can get a free email address.
"Now 500 computers in 56 libraries provide more than a million hours of free access a year."