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Which MPs don't display party allegiance on Twitter? | Which MPs don't display party allegiance on Twitter? |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Most Conservative MPs on Twitter don't mention the party in their profiles on the social networking site, BBC analysis reveals. | Most Conservative MPs on Twitter don't mention the party in their profiles on the social networking site, BBC analysis reveals. |
The vast majority of MPs from other parties clearly display their party allegiance. | The vast majority of MPs from other parties clearly display their party allegiance. |
There are 316 Tory MPs, and 261 of them use Twitter. Of these, just 43% explicitly mention the Conservative Party in their profile. | There are 316 Tory MPs, and 261 of them use Twitter. Of these, just 43% explicitly mention the Conservative Party in their profile. |
It's not as if these Conservative MPs are keeping their party allegiance a secret - many of them frequently share official party material, and tweet pro-Tory messages. Many others simply aren't very active on Twitter. | It's not as if these Conservative MPs are keeping their party allegiance a secret - many of them frequently share official party material, and tweet pro-Tory messages. Many others simply aren't very active on Twitter. |
However it is striking that most Tories don't explicitly mention their party in their profile, while the vast majority of other MPs do. | However it is striking that most Tories don't explicitly mention their party in their profile, while the vast majority of other MPs do. |
The data was compiled on Thursday, 18 January 2018 with the help of Alex Krasodomski, a digital researcher at the think tank Demos. | The data was compiled on Thursday, 18 January 2018 with the help of Alex Krasodomski, a digital researcher at the think tank Demos. |
As well as MPs who mention their party in their biography, these figures also include MPs who show another clear sign of allegiance, such as a photo with their leader, or alongside placard-wielding activists. | As well as MPs who mention their party in their biography, these figures also include MPs who show another clear sign of allegiance, such as a photo with their leader, or alongside placard-wielding activists. |
Labour MPs are much more likely to use Twitter than Conservatives - 247 of 261 have an account. | Labour MPs are much more likely to use Twitter than Conservatives - 247 of 261 have an account. |
They are also far more likely to be explicit about what party they belong to - 90% either mention Labour in the biography, or show a clear sign of party allegiance in their profile pictures. | They are also far more likely to be explicit about what party they belong to - 90% either mention Labour in the biography, or show a clear sign of party allegiance in their profile pictures. |
Of the 12 Liberal Democrat MPs, all but one - Stephen Lloyd in Eastbourne - mention the party. | Of the 12 Liberal Democrat MPs, all but one - Stephen Lloyd in Eastbourne - mention the party. |
All 35 SNP MPs have a Twitter account, but only four do not mention their party anywhere. Nine of the 10 DUP MPs use the site, and all nine make their allegiance clear. | |
Of course there's nothing wrong with MPs not mentioning their party on their Twitter blurb. | Of course there's nothing wrong with MPs not mentioning their party on their Twitter blurb. |
There might be some good reasons - for instance MPs don't just represent their party, they are also a voice in parliament for their constituents - tens of thousands of whom didn't vote for them. | There might be some good reasons - for instance MPs don't just represent their party, they are also a voice in parliament for their constituents - tens of thousands of whom didn't vote for them. |
Also, many like to see themselves as independent voices rather than party loyalists. | Also, many like to see themselves as independent voices rather than party loyalists. |
Send us your thoughts using the form below: | Send us your thoughts using the form below: |
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