Guest Post - ComPolitics

Continuing with the current series of guest posts Reeves Eggton, from Skegness Conservative Future tells us why computers will never win an election:

Few will have failed to notice the tragic rehabilitation of former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott from seasoned campaigner into Internet whiz kid. There is something fundamentally disturbing about the self-styled ‘working class and proud’ veteran swapping his roots for wires to take the political battle from the walkways to the web.

Already, in the information age political organisations have in many cases wisely made use of social networking applications to get the Party message across to the public and more importantly, younger voters. But the launch of Prezza 2.0 reveals the unhealthy obsession with Compolitics (computer-politics) whereby the doorstep is switched for they keyboard with little consideration for the long-term impact on prospective voters.

When comparing the time it takes to canvass a street to the time it takes to message the exact same number of people over Facebook, it’s easy to see why Compolitics is capturing the agenda for many seasoned campaigners. Thanks to Labour, money is tight, taxes are high and crime is soaring, voters need support and dialogue on the doorstep - and they need it now.

Organisations like Conservative Future avoid providing Second Life avatars for the campaign trail and instead concentrate on providing real activists in real areas of need. By supporting critical campaigns with hardworking volunteers, the team has already made a huge impact on marginal seats across the UK. In the London region this year alone, the organisation has held two major campaign days in target areas, with the next scheduled in Westminster for March 28. With a growing member base and several more events in the pipeline, Conservative Future will be key to winning the next election.

Make no mistake, Compolitics is without doubt an essential tool in any campaign, but it must never be a substitute for activism on the ground. With Labour support crumbling and once loyal activists de-motivated and feeling let down, this is the moment for Conservative Future activists to steal the show.

With an election just around the corner, don’t be fooled by Labour’s desperate attempts to dominate the Internet with online gimmicks. Simply peel back the 2.0 gloss and you’ll see a tired organisation desperate for innovation, but stuck with Gordon Brown.

With the public seeking real change, it’s essential that Conservative Future demonstrates that its activists are committed & dedicated as well as Internet savvy.

Only by convincing voters we are ready for Government both online and in the real world will we seriously be considered to run the country once again.

On that note, to avoid hypocrisy, I’d better get out there now!

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