At the start of the 21st Century, many things are now done online which would have seemed almost unthinkable over 15 years ago - such as shopping, booking a holiday or discussing current affairs.
And now, Britain's great democracy is entering the online realm.
During the coming three Thursdays, in the run up to the Thursday May 6th General Election, live televised debates will take place between the leaders of the UK's three main parties for the first time in a British General Election.
The Tory leader David Cameron, Labour leader and PM Gordon Brown, and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, will take part in the first televised debate this coming Thursday 15th April. It will take place on ITV, take part in the North West region of England, and will focus on domestic affairs.
The following Thursday 22nd April, the next live debate between the three will be shown on Sky News, will take place in the South West of England, and will focus on foreign affairs.
Again on the following Thursday 29th April, the final debate will take place. It will be shown on the BBC, take place in the Midlands, and will focus on the economy.
The following Thursday 6th May is the General Election itself.
And for the debates, the British people people will decide what questions are to be asked by online voting.
The three main party leaders have agreed to take part in digital debates on websites Facebook and YouTube.
Internet users will be able to suggest questions in five categories - economy, health and education, law and order, foreign policy and miscellaneous - on the sites, which will be voted on by other members of the public.
Richard Allan, Facebook's Director of Policy, said: "The dawn of the digital election this year is a transformative moment for democracy in Britain."
Leaders sign up for online debate
11th April 2010
BBC
The three main party leaders have agreed to take part in digital debates on websites Facebook and YouTube.
Internet users will be able to suggest questions in five categories on the sites, which will be voted on by other members of the public.
Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron have pledged to post video responses 10 days before election day.
The leaders will take part in three live television debates in the run-up to this election, in a historic first.
Internet users can post questions in text or video form, in the categories of economy, health and education, law and order, foreign policy and miscellaneous.
The dawn of the digital election this year is a transformative moment for democracy in Britain
Richard Allan
Facebook Director of Policy
Users are not allowed to post any offensive questions, and all three leaders will answer the two most popular questions in each category.
Peter Barron, director of communications for Google, YouTube's owner, said: "Although the televised debates will be a historic first, we feel that that there is an opportunity for a different type of platform that allows voters to be in charge of the questions.
"By collaborating with Facebook to put together one initiative we hope to enable as many voters as possible from across the UK to take part."
Facebook has launched an effort to engage people in the election
Richard Allan, Facebook's Director of Policy, said: "The dawn of the digital election this year is a transformative moment for democracy in Britain. By allowing voters to cross-examine their leaders, these digital debates will put the voters firmly in charge.
"This marks a decisive shift away from the constraints of top-down traditional media and will take full advantage of unique scale and reach of Facebook, thus changing the way that politicians campaign for good."
Your question for the televised Prime Ministerial Debate on the BBC
For the first time ever in the UK, the leaders of the three main parties will debate on live television during the General Election campaign.
On 29 April from 8.30pm, BBC One will host a live Prime Ministerial Debate from the Midlands, and we want your questions for Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
The first half of the programme will debate the economy. We will then have the chance to discuss all other election issues.
A selection of the best questions submitted will be considered for use in the programme.
To submit your question, fill in the form at this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8589502.stm
news.bbc.co.uk
And now, Britain's great democracy is entering the online realm.
During the coming three Thursdays, in the run up to the Thursday May 6th General Election, live televised debates will take place between the leaders of the UK's three main parties for the first time in a British General Election.
The Tory leader David Cameron, Labour leader and PM Gordon Brown, and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, will take part in the first televised debate this coming Thursday 15th April. It will take place on ITV, take part in the North West region of England, and will focus on domestic affairs.
The following Thursday 22nd April, the next live debate between the three will be shown on Sky News, will take place in the South West of England, and will focus on foreign affairs.
Again on the following Thursday 29th April, the final debate will take place. It will be shown on the BBC, take place in the Midlands, and will focus on the economy.
The following Thursday 6th May is the General Election itself.
And for the debates, the British people people will decide what questions are to be asked by online voting.
The three main party leaders have agreed to take part in digital debates on websites Facebook and YouTube.
Internet users will be able to suggest questions in five categories - economy, health and education, law and order, foreign policy and miscellaneous - on the sites, which will be voted on by other members of the public.
Richard Allan, Facebook's Director of Policy, said: "The dawn of the digital election this year is a transformative moment for democracy in Britain."
Leaders sign up for online debate
11th April 2010
BBC
The three main party leaders have agreed to take part in digital debates on websites Facebook and YouTube.
Internet users will be able to suggest questions in five categories on the sites, which will be voted on by other members of the public.
Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron have pledged to post video responses 10 days before election day.
The leaders will take part in three live television debates in the run-up to this election, in a historic first.
Internet users can post questions in text or video form, in the categories of economy, health and education, law and order, foreign policy and miscellaneous.
Richard Allan
Facebook Director of Policy
Users are not allowed to post any offensive questions, and all three leaders will answer the two most popular questions in each category.
Peter Barron, director of communications for Google, YouTube's owner, said: "Although the televised debates will be a historic first, we feel that that there is an opportunity for a different type of platform that allows voters to be in charge of the questions.
"By collaborating with Facebook to put together one initiative we hope to enable as many voters as possible from across the UK to take part."
Facebook has launched an effort to engage people in the election
Richard Allan, Facebook's Director of Policy, said: "The dawn of the digital election this year is a transformative moment for democracy in Britain. By allowing voters to cross-examine their leaders, these digital debates will put the voters firmly in charge.
"This marks a decisive shift away from the constraints of top-down traditional media and will take full advantage of unique scale and reach of Facebook, thus changing the way that politicians campaign for good."
Your question for the televised Prime Ministerial Debate on the BBC
For the first time ever in the UK, the leaders of the three main parties will debate on live television during the General Election campaign.
On 29 April from 8.30pm, BBC One will host a live Prime Ministerial Debate from the Midlands, and we want your questions for Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
The first half of the programme will debate the economy. We will then have the chance to discuss all other election issues.
A selection of the best questions submitted will be considered for use in the programme.
To submit your question, fill in the form at this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8589502.stm
news.bbc.co.uk
