Monday, March 31st, 2008

Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick is taking part in an exclusive interview on Twitter, the popular text messaging service – the first time this has been done by a UK politician.

Brian Paddick will be offering an exclusive interview to all of his ‘followers’ on Twitter. Users who have signed up to follow Brian Paddick on Twitter will be able to text a question and answers will then be sent to the questioners and posted on his official website.

Commenting, Brian Paddick said:

“I’m really excited by the possibilities that Twitter offers to help me reach out to people who normally aren’t that interested in politics or elections.

“My Twitter interview will let people put questions directly to me about any topic related to the election.”

Notes to Editors:

1) Brian is the only Mayoral candidate to have been using Twitter to communicate with Londoners. People are able to sign up to get text message updates for free from him by texting follow brianpaddick to 07624 801 423.

2) Twitter is a free text-message based social networking and blogging service and is one of the fastest growing cutting edge internet tools. Twitter has been described as:

“Incredibly useful” Wired Magazine
“It’s one of the fastest-growing phenomena on the Internet.” New York Times
“Twitter is on its way to becoming the next killer app.” Time Magazine

3) Anyone signed up to follow Brian Paddick on Twitter can text a question between Thursday 3rd and Tuesday 8th April. Brian Paddick will then send the answers to the questioners via Twitter and post them on his website, www.brianpaddick.org

4) To ask a question, followers of Brian Paddick can text d brianpaddick followed by the question, e.g. d brianpaddick how would you cut crime? to 07624 801 423.