Technology: Labour MP unveils personal TV channel

Celia Barlow, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, East Sussex, has collaborated with local company Global Digital Broadcast to create an internet protocol television (IPTV) channel that can be viewed online or via digital TV.

The channel features Barlow's campaigns and television appearances and will include video diaries.

Barlow said that internet television and IPTV provide 'a great opportunity to communicate with my constituents in a different way'. Using digital technology will also help reach out to younger constituents, she claimed.

Other MPs have previously made use of online video, such as YouTube. However, digital PR experts said they were not aware of politicians using this particular IPTV technology.

Stephen Davies, founder of online agency 3WPR, said Barlow could use the technology for 'a dialogue with her constituents on subjects that matter to them as opposed to just dictating her agenda'.

Ed Lecky-Thompson, MD of digital agency Galileo, issued a similar warning, saying the site would backfire if it turned out to be 'yet another mouthpiece for Labour'.