01/07/10
As a new wave of MPs tweet and text their way through Whitehall, digital democracy takes a leap forward today with the launch of a free app for iPhones which allows constituents to get closer to their local MP.
The new app called MyMP developed by Public Zone and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) aims to create better dialogue between MPs and the public. At the touch of a button, constituents can now provide their MP with their views on local issues, email their MP, read about what their MP has been doing, and keep up with news in their local area, all of which help make the work of MPs more accessible.
After a successful trial of the app with Derek Wyatt MP earlier this year, all MP's are being encouraged to sign up. The app has already received cross-party support from MPs including Mike Crockart, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West; Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat MP for East Dumbartonshire; John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness and Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth. Their constituents can download the app for free from today.
The technology is currently free to MPs who do not need to own an iPhone in order to use the app. MPs simply need to download information through a personalised website created for them by Public Zone, which is then transmitted to the app.
Jonathan Kestenbaum, Chief Executive of NESTA, says: 'With public trust in politics at an all time low, mobile technology is a simple way of making politics more accessible and interactive. Digital democracy is an imaginative new way of engaging citizens.'
Jonathan Simmons, Public Zone Managing Director says: "As representatives, MPs need to utilise all the tools available to them to engage individual constituents. MyMP allows MPs to canvass constituents on the issues they care about."
NESTA research shows that the public have an appetite for improved online engagement. A recent survey1 of 2,550 people showed that 40 per cent of people would like more opportunity to interact online with politicians and political parties, rising to 60 per cent for 18-24 year olds.
To download the app for free, visit www.my-mp.org.uk.
1 Research was conducted by Opinion Matters for NESTA between 31 March 2010 and 9 April 2010. Sample size: 2550 UK adults aged 18+ (1435 surveyed over the telephone, 1115 surveyed online).
For further information please contact:
Jan Singleton at NESTA on 020 7438 2606 / jan.singleton@nesta.org.uk
Pavla Kopecna at Public Zone on 020 7267 4774 / pavla@publiczone.co.uk
For photography of the app and MP's and to arrange interviews, please contact Jan Singleton.
The app in numbers
When the app was trialled in January 2010 with Derek Wyatt MP:
The app's main features are:
Smartphones Penetration in the UK
Smartphone ownership in the UK has increased by 10% between Q2 and Q3 last year. Now 1 in 7 Brits own a smartphone. Research conducted by the Internet Advertising Bureau - the trade association for online and mobile advertising - found that 73% of marketers believe mobile will be the medium to see most growth over the next 5 years. 55% of respondents agreed that in the future mobile will be the primary medium for communicating with 12 - 24 age group.
About NESTA
NESTA is an independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative to drive economic recovery and solve some of the UK's major social challenges. Our endowment status means we operate at no cost to the UK taxpayer.
NESTA is a world leader in its field and is in a unique position to support innovation through a blend of practical programmes, policy and research and investment in early-stage companies. www.nesta.org.uk
About Public Zone
Public Zone is a digital agency specialising in working on socially motivated projects (we work with the BBC on accessibility, Channel 4 on education, The Prostate Cancer Charity, the Department of Health and HMRC, to name a few).
Public Zone's team members have considerable experience running large scale public engagement projects, including leading user experience work for the BBC, and digital production for Comic Relief, Channel 4 and The Guardian. www.publiczone.co.uk
Mike Crockart, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West:
'People are rightly no longer satisfied by only hearing from their MPs at elections or through annual reports. I'm excited to be part of the launch of the MyMP app which will offer a far greater level of interactivity and allow me to develop relationships with many more of my constituents.'
Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat MP for East Dumbartonshire:
'The way people communicate is changing fast with the ever-accelerating advance of new technology, and it is important that we as MPs keep up with new innovations. Communicating with constituents is a key part of an MP's job, and this new iPhone app will make it easier for people to get in touch with their representative and keep track of what they are up to. I look forward to seeing how the public - and MPs - respond to this new idea.'
Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth:
'I believe in using all means possible to communicate with residents and this application is an easy to use tool for residents to make contact with me, see what I am doing and let me know their views. I am very happy to be part of this and excited about being among the first Members of Parliament to be part of this step forward in communicating.'
John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness:
"I am looking forward to trying MyMP out - It is so important that MPs are accessible to the people who have sent them to Parliament to stand up for them. I am a fairly new convert to this kind of technology and I was surprised by how useful talking to people through things like Twitter was during the election campaign. The MyMP device looks like an excellent way for constituents with an iPhone to keep track of what we are doing and - more importantly - have their say directly on the issues that matter to them."
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Nesta Operating Company, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number SC042833.
