Well over half of the UK population has internet access at home, those that don't nearly always have access at the local public library or their workplace.

Politicians have a duty to engage with their electorate and keep in touch. Traditionally we have done this by attending community meetings, holding advice surgeries, delivering leaflets and newsletters.

The internet is simply another channel for us to use. But it has some significant benefits. The cost (in both time and real money) is far less than the other channels mentioned.

In today's busy society fewer and fewer people have time to attend meetings in drafty community centres or church halls. The people who attend are frequently the same ones every time.

Leaflets require (even with DTP software) a reasonably high level of skill and time to produce. And then the local political party needs money to print them, and volunteers to distribute them. To get the money you need to fund raise from members and supporters. More time and more work.

Contrast this to a blog which can be set up in less than 10 minutes. Creating entries is very easy and can even be sent by email or text message. It helps if you're a good writer, but if you're simply reporting what you've been doing on your electorate's behalf then you don't need to be Shakespeare.

So for very little time and no cash cost you can potentially reach more than half of your electorate. OK, to actually make the blog work properly then you do need to be a bit more proactive and let your constituents know about it. You'll probably need to use traditional communications channels to do this such as promoting the URL in leaflets, newsletters, email signatures, letterheads, business cards, surgery advice posters etc.

The blog doesn't replace traditional communications channels but is an essential part of the mix. To ignore the internet as a channel is every bit as bad as failing to do advice surgeries, attend community meetings, or publish newsletters and leaflets.