How to follow the major UK political parties on social media

IMAGE: FLICKR, ERIC HOSSINGER

As the United Kingdom gears up for the general election in May, we're excited to find out what role social media is going to play in the inevitable wider media frenzy.

At the time of the last election, in 2010, the UK was seeing a dramatic rise in social media usage, but the traditional media of television and print were more influential in deciding the ultimate outcome.

This year however, everything could change. Although the relatively new TV debates will help influence millions, more could be decided by digital communications and actions than ever before.

With 66% of online adults in the UK signed up to at least one social network, and 60% of UK users visiting social sites more than once a day, what happens online will arguably have a massive impact on how things go offline.

In order for you to keep up with the social media activities of all the major political parties involved in the forthcoming Westminster elections, we have curated — in alphabetical order — a useful list of all the official Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts so you can follow, like or subscribe to the parties that interest you.

The Conservative Party

The centre-right Tory party is the UK's largest, currently governing Britain in coalition with the Liberal Democrats. The party's one-liner going into the 2015 elections is the promise of a "long-term economic plan which builds a stronger, healthier economy and secures a better future for Britain."

The Tories are on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. You can find incumbent prime minister and party leader David Cameron's Twitter account here.

Green Party

The comparatively small Green Party currently has just one elected member of parliament, but claims rapidly growing membership and support. It says it "promotes the policies of ecological sustainability, a fairer more stable economy and a more equal society."

The Green Party is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Australian-born Natalie Bennett, the Green Party leader, can be found on Twitter here.

Liberal Democrats

Currently in coalition rule with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats are campaigning under the “Stronger Economy, Fairer Society” slogan. The social-liberal party is the third-largest in the UK, but has suffered considerable losses in local elections since joining the Tories in power.

The Lib Dems' social media accounts encompass Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Current deputy prime minister and party leader Nick Clegg is on Twitter here.

The Labour Party

The second-largest political party in the UK, Labour has kicked off its election campaign in modern style, complete with a hashtag — #forthemany. The centre-left party governed Britain from 1997 to 2010, and is looking for a return to power in 2015 under leader Ed Miliband.

The Official Opposition party can be visited on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It also runs an Instagram account. Miliband tweets here.

Plaid Cymru/Party of Wales

Working toward an independent Wales, Plaid Cymru "wants to build a nation that thrives and prospers as a result of its own strong and sustainable economy with excellent schools and first-class health care."

The Party of Wales, a.k.a. Plaid, is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Its current leader is Leanne Wood who can be found on Twitter here.

Scottish National Party

The Scottish National Party wants an independent Scotland. Although it suffered defeat in 2014’sScottish independence referendum, it now has a new leader ready for a fresh fight. The SNP will be looking to capitalise on the patriotism the vote aroused in the country, but seats taken from Labour will ultimately be helping the Conservatives back in Westminster.

The SNP can be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The party’s new leader and first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, can be found on Twitter here.

UK Independence Party

The controversial right-wing UK Independence Party is led by the equally controversial Nigel Farage. If elected, the party would leave the European Union and limit immigration. The party has enjoyed considerable success in recent local and European elections.

UKIP is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Leader Nigel Farage is on Twitter here.

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Google to Facebook Seen Thwarted as EU Clashes on Privacy

The European Union is backtracking from plans to allow U.S. Internet giants to be regulated by a single data-privacy watchdog in the EU, threatening the so-called one-stop-shop backed byGoogle Inc. (GOOG) to Facebook Inc. (FB)

Amid a turf war over who gets to regulate some of the world’s biggest companies, justice ministers have dropped proposals to give sole power to regulators where companies have their EU headquarters. As they met in Brussels today, splits emerged over an alternative plan that would see powers spread out, giving other nations the right to veto decisions taken by the lead authority.

The compromise proposal “effectively allows each authority to exercise a veto over the decision of the lead authority,” said Wes Himes, a director at the European Digital Media Association, whose members include Google, Facebook and Microsoft Corp. “All we want is one decision, one outcome.”

With U.S. companies such as Facebook, Apple Inc. (AAPL), and LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD) having Ireland as their main European base for data-protection purposes, policing privacy violations already resembles a battle between David and Goliath for thinly staffed agencies in some of the EU’s smallest nations.

Countries including France opposed earlier plans for the one-stop-shop, calling for more power on how such companies are regulated.

‘Complex and Burdensome’

While German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the revised plan to involve all authorities in a decision was “sensible,” countries such as Ireland, Poland and the U.K. strongly opposed the changes.

The re-written proposal will create a “complex and burdensome system which is unlikely to achieve the key objectives of legal certainty and proximity,” Dara Murphy, Ireland’s data protection minister, said at the meeting.

The definition in the draft of who would be the “concerned” regulators that could oppose a lead authority’s decision “is very wide” and “it will only take the disagreement on the part of a single” authority to trigger the referral of a case to a board that will be charged with settling disputes, he said.

This in turn will cause delays that “are not conducive to business efficiency or legal certainty,” said Murphy.

U.K. Justice Minister Chris Grayling said the compromise solution would create “disagreements and legal challenges, protracted delay, huge expense and a large volume of cases building up” in the EU’s top court. Ministers have “a real desire to grasp a solution if they can find it,” he said.

Cross-Border Cases

The latest proposals on how to revamp the EU’s 19-year-old data privacy law would make changes putting all watchdogs “concerned” in charge of deciding on cases affecting more than one country. The new mechanism would apply in “important cross-border cases” and oblige the lead data agency to come to a decision jointly with other EU regulators.

“If after a few weeks or a month, let’s say, there are no major objections” to “a decision from the lead authority, it will be assumed adopted by all of the regulators,” said Edouard Geffray, secretary general of France’s data regulator, CNIL. “This refutes any criticism that the proposed system would lead to long delays. It would lead to a rather efficient system.”

Facebook and Microsoft declined to comment, while Google representatives didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ex-Commissioner

The EU’s former justice chief Viviane Reding heralded the one-stop-shop as a way to simplify procedures for companies and citizens alike when she proposed the revamping of the bloc’s privacy law in January 2012.

“We believe in a lead data protection authority and a pure one-stop-shop system,” said Himes. The alternative is a “convoluted process of multi-consultation, multi-decision making.”

Having to seek feedback and get the green light of all regulators concerned would lead to a “paralysis,” said Gerard Lommel, head of the Luxembourg privacy authority until last month.

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Black Friday: Social media reflects shopping chaos

Staff tried to keep order as customers competed over items including televisions

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As thousands of shoppers compete for Black Friday offers, social media has been reflecting the chaos seen across England.

In Asda, Wembley, Kadhim Shubber from the Financial Times tweeted a video of a woman who ended up on the floor as shoppers competed for a television.

At the same supermarket, the BBC's Zoe Conway tweeted a picture of a woman on her knees with the words: "Customers knocked to the ground in the rush at Asda Wembley #BlackFriday."


Customers were "knocked to the ground" during the chaos

One woman ended up on the floor in Asda Wembley as shoppers competed for a television

Police have been called to more than 10 supermarkets following crowd surges.

A Tesco in Trafford, Greater Manchester, closed shortly after footage was filmed of disruption as people queued.

It was not just the police who were called to deal with shoppers, the North West Ambulance Service tweeted: "Called out to Chester Road, Stretford this morning. Female with head injury after being hit with a television. Stay safe!."

Sgt Paul Marshall, from the Metropolitan Police, reminded shoppers onTwitter they could be arrested: "Even on #BlackFriday shoving people to the floor so you can get £20 off a Coffee Maker is still an assault."

At other retailers, a calmer scene of lengthy queues of bargain hunters was seen, with Sarah Butler tweeting that a "very British queue" was seen at one Asda store.

Shoppers wait for one Asda supermarket to open
Shoppers are admitted by a security guard as they queue outside a branch of Foot Locker on Oxford Street, London

Stock flew off the shelves with Bryan Roberts tweeting that a "massive pile" of televisions had been taken from an aisle within six minutes in one supermarket.

But, there was some criticism on social media of those trying to grab a bargain. Bradley Clarke tweeted: "I've woken up to Black Friday carnage. What's actually wrong with people? People have no shame. #smh #BlackFriday #sales"

While Stu tweeted: "Having read more & more about the chaos of this #BlackFriday I'm more & more convinced it shld be banned. Disgusting scenes. #NotBritish"

The empty area where a "massive pile" of televisions once stood, according to one customer

Despite the chaos some happy shoppers tweeted they had managed to take home a bargain.

Kinia, from Wallasey, tweeted: "I wouldn't buy something I don't need on #BlackFriday but I got a 200ml perfume for £40 instead of £75! Bargain #loosewomen @loosewomen".

Other shoppers had managed to avoid the chaos, Grace Billinghamtweeted: "Don't know where people have been shopping but it's been bliss for me! Got myself a bargain or 2 with no fights or ques 👍 #BlackFriday"

While others decided to avoid the chaos and buy online, such as Paul Ferguson who tweeted: "Not even gotten out of bed yet and I've already bought an iPad... #BlackFriday".

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