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The online diary of Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, aged 54¼
She's had a slap-up breakfast in the House of Commons, lost and found her mobile phone and struggled to change a printer cartridge.
They're not the most important details you might want to know about your MP, but Portsmouth MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry is telling the world.
The member for Portsmouth North is the first MP in our area to sign up for Twitter, the social networking website which allows users to constantly keep followers updated on the details of daily life.
And while Mrs McCarthy-Fry, 54, also uses the service to keep constituents up to date with her political work, it's the minor details of her updates – called 'tweets' by Twitter users – that might give a fascinating insight into the MP's life.
Recent updates from the MP revealed all about her fry-up in the Commons canteen before a day's work, how she came a cropper when trying to change that printer cartridge and how her mobile turned up in a pile of washing.
In the wake of the scandal about how MPs spend taxpayers' money, she also made it clear when tweeting about a new laptop that she hadn't bought it on expenses.
Mrs McCarthy-Fry believes it's a good new way of keeping constituents – particularly younger people – in the know. But her critics are sceptical about whether it is the best way to engage with the public.
Penny Mordaunt, who is standing against Mrs McCarthy-Fry for the Portsmouth North seat at the next General Election, said: 'I have nothing against Twitter. I think anything that helps people engage in politics is good.
'But it is no substitute for good face-to-face communication with constituents, and I would criticise Sarah for how little time she spends on that.'
Mrs McCarthy-Fry was the second MP to announce a new job on Twitter when she was appointed as a minister for the Department of Communities and Local Government this month.
She said: 'It is just a way of communicating with people and I am hoping it will grow.
'There is no point in me twittering to other politicians, I am hoping I am going to get more ordinary constituents involved. If you talk to any young people they are on Facebook or MySpace so it is a way of communicating with them. Of course there is no substitute to knocking on doors and meeting people face to face, and I will not stop doing that.'
When asked why she posts details of her personal life, Mrs McCarthy-Fry said: 'I think it is important to show that I am a person as well as an MP.
TOP TWEETS
smccarthyfry....
is playing with her new toy – a really neat little netbook. And not paid for on expenses before anyone asks.
thinks her grandson looks sooo cute now he has his first tooth.
will need to be in two places at once as she is now on both the Local Democracy Bill and the Finance Bill. Should have gone to Hogwarts.
has just chaired her first Reasons Committee and got to say 'Order Order' – but is not planning on being a late entry for Speaker.
thought she could fool her printer by replacing an empty black cartridge with a blue one so she could carry on printing but no such luck.
was embarrassed by her dog at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. He almost stole some chicken legs from a BBQ. Humble apologies were needed.
has found her phone.....phew. It had fallen out of the pocket of her jeans and was buried under a pile of clothes.
is disappointed but hardly surprised that the Tories voted against National Tenant Voice.
is in the constituency – packed advice centre this. Off to family BBQ now.
is very disappointed with James Purnell – a kick in the teeth for all the activists who were on the streets getting the vote out yesterday.
LATEST PHENOMENON
Twitter is the latest social phenomenon to hit the internet. Users have just 140 characters to send the website updates.
Users can follow their favourite Twitter users to see every update by that person.
Celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Jonathan Ross champion Twitter and have thousands of followers.
The website is at twitter.com and Sarah McCarthy-Fry's page is at twitter.com/smccarthyfry
You can also get regular news updates by following The News on Twitter at twitter.com/portsmouthnews
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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