EDITOR’S BLOG: Politicians – publish and be damned

Every councillor in Scotland has been sent a guide on blogging and social networks.

The move is in the wake of several embarrassing comments made by politicians in the run up to the election, which showed candidates in their true colours.

One piece of advice given in the document is: “Think before you write and don’t post anything you wouldn’t say at a public meeting. This is crucial.”

Yes it is crucial, but it also applies to every other medium as well – newspapers, radio, TV. The difference is when the politicians become the publishers there’s nothing between the medium and the masses, so the message goes straight out there.

But on the flip side of the coin, we get to know what our politicians are thinking before being ‘edited’ and that’s a very valuable point. Do we, the electorate, want to hear a controlled and sanitised synopsis or do we want to know what they really think.

Trust in our politicians is falling, and that’s exactly the reason why. We often don’t trust that what they say is what they mean.

So politicians, continue to nail your colours to the mast, we elect you for standing up for what you believe in. If you lie and cover it up, we don’t want you.

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