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Leader: Technology matters in the general election
Or does it? We'd like to know what you think...

By silicon.com

Published: Thursday 14 April 2005

Technology is already playing a big part in the general election campaign - for better and for worse.

This week Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats unveiled their manifestos, and while the details might differ, many of the promises for extra spending and efficiency made by each of the parties are underpinned by the better use of IT.

Whoever wins, we can be sure that cutting out waste and duplication by smarter use of technology across the public sector is a policy that will be pursued with vigour.

The path of government tech projects has rarely run smoothly, no matter which party is in charge, yet that doesn't change that even the most tech-savvy voter would be hard-pressed to decide which of the parties would be most efficient at overseeing IT projects.

After all, they are choosing between politicians, not project managers.

In which case, is technology really a political issue? While a party's policy on, say, biometric ID cards might sway the way you vote, what about its attitude towards NHS modernisation, public sector IT procurements or broadband?

Throughout the election campaign, silicon.com will be keeping tabs on the policies and the use of IT in the campaign itself.

Let us know what you think are the technology issues that the parties should (or should not) be addressing by posting a Reader Comment below or emailing us at editorial@silicon.com.

It is unfortunate that the first few days of the campaign have been marked by the sort of stunts - such as candidates registering URLs which include the names of their rivals - that should have died out long ago.

If the only use that political parties can find for the internet is as a venue for cheap tricks, then that doesn't bode well for future IT policy, whoever gets elected.