Parliament, Elected Representatives and Technology 1997–2005—Good in Parts?

PARLIAMENT and elected representatives have often been accused of reacting slowly to the development of new media technologies. This article provides a brief assessment of the adaptation of the Westminster Parliament and parliamentarians to new technologies from the point of view of a political practitioner who served as a UK elected representative between 1997 and 2005. Whilst it is descriptive and personal, it provides an insider perspective on the impact of information communication technologies (ICTs) on political institutions. In particular, the analysis assesses some of the restraints and pressures on Parliament and Members of Parliament (MPs) which help explain the relatively slow response of political representatives