According to the pundits, 2010 is set to be the year of the ‘web election’.

We’ve heard it thousands of time already and the election is not even underway yet. Following the huge growth in social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter are now vital weapons in an MP’s election campaign arsenal. But the major parties are failing to make the most of their online presence through confusing website layouts and policy messages unsuitable for a Google search, claims a study published today.

Neil Jackson, search strategy director at Tamar, the research agency behind the study, told Total Politics: “You have to have content that appeals to different types of searches. It’s about making content work in a way that reaches a wide audience.”

Yesterday’s announcement of a new ‘MyPolitics’ iPhone application, aimed at bringing the public and MPs closer together, demonstrates that politicians are clearly prepared to engage with the online electorate. The problem they now face is making effective enough use of the internet to get their message across.

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"I love Britain - don't make me bite back those words."

Nicolas Sarkozy’s response to a journalist pressing the French president to comment upon recent rumours about the state of his marriage.

The Conservative technology manifesto, launched yesterday, seems to present an exciting and refreshing approach to the utility of digital technology in British politics. It demonstrates a thorough appreciation of the way in which digital technology can be incorporated into viable practices.

It states that the proposals will establish "the British government the most technology-friendly in the world to create new jobs and kick-start the recovery". It is interesting to find a strong reference to the expenses scandal in the manifesto, with emphasis on greater transparency of government expenditure. It suggests that such transparency should ultimately create more jobs, by enabling businesses and social entrepreneurs to draw upon formerly unavailable information. Similarly the environment is to become a great benefactor of digital technology, according to the Conservatives.

The Conservative’s seem to have moved several steps forward from the common, and somewhat naive, notion of digital political involvement as the mere usage of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, to increase communications with voters in a direct and swift manner. However, there is still room for improvement.

The manifesto neglects to outline the costs and deadlines for its ideas, and is scarce on the visions it provides for the timely issue of intellectual property rights online. One would expect to see more detail on how a future Conservative government would tackle this area in dire need of reform. Also, it would be interesting to see more of how the digital realm can be used as a tool to improve social equality among the hardest hit in society. Currently, there is little for those that wish to climb the technological social ladder.

The Liberal Democrats announced their election campaign slogan at their Spring conference in Birmingham this morning: "Change That Works For You. Building a Fairer Britain.”

If it sounds familiar, you’d be right. The new slogan bears more than a passing resemblance to the electoral slogans released for the Labour campaign, "A Future, Fair For All" and the Conservatives' recent heavy emphasis on “change”.

Barack Obama's successful election campaign showed the benefits of a strong slogan. Sadly, the Lib-Dems' mouthful of a mantra fails to set out any clear ideas to differentiate them from Labour and the Conservatives.

Giving the perception of cherry-picking from the other parties’ campaign slogans, Nick Clegg and his party are in danger of reinforcing the view that the Liberal Democrats do not have a clear identity of their own.

An Eaton Wick councillor has made a desperate appeal to David Cameron after claims his fellow Tory councillors are trying to unseat him. Councillor Stephen Smith emailed the Tory leader for support after he allegedly discovered a recording of a council advisor plotting to remove him.

Basildon councillor John Dornan claims he will “continue to speak up” after being cleared of allegations of bullying and intimidation during a planning meeting. Dornan was claimed to have made “repeated offensive derogatory comments” by the council’s solicitor.

West Dorset district council is donating £70,000 to five local youth advice centres. InSparations in Lyme Regis, Rendezvous in Sherborne, The Mill in Bridport, and Routes in Dorchester will each recieve £8,700 over two years. Dorchester Arts will receive a substantial £35,982 towards the improvement of arts in the community.

Epping Forest Youth Council will hold a debate on lowering the voting age to 16 when it meets today. Young people will also have the chance to put questions to two of the three MPs for the district – Eleanor Laing, Bill Rammel and Epping Forest council chairman Penny Smith. The debate will take place from 11.15 and will be broadcast live online.