Blair in text messaging initiative
The Prime Minister is to break fresh ground by taking part in question and answer session with the public via text message.
Following an initiative from mobile phone network O2, Tony Blair has pledged to reply personally to texts sent on a mobile phone.
In doing so, he is set to become the first British premier to use text messaging to speak with the public in a mass consultation exercise.
Mr Blair said: “This is the chance for everyone else to use their mobile phones to ask me the questions they want answered.”
A spokesman for O2 said the UK’s mobile phone users would have the chance to probe the Prime Minister on issues such as the Iraq war, the proposed smoking ban or 24-hour pub opening.
Hugh Griffiths, O2’s head of new products, said: “Everyone who texts a question will get a reply.
“There are 54 million handsets across the UK so almost everyone can participate. The Prime Minister’s office has been very keen on the idea.
“Obviously Mr Blair won’t be able to answer every question – so we will send out answers to similar questions or other hot topics he is talking about.”
Downing Street said it backed the idea as it would help politicians communicate with disenfranchised youngsters.
Mobile phone users on any network can text Mr Blair on 80202.
Margherita Taylor, a DJ on London’s Capital FM radio station, is to pick 30 of the top questions and forward them to Mr Blair next Thursday from 13:00 GMT.
The event will be broadcast live from a webcam to a chatroom on O2’s website.
Responses are free, with any revenue generated donated to Weston Spirit, the youth charity co-founded by Falklands veteran Simon Weston OBE.
