The recent furore over road pricing has been fuelled by an online petition service provided by the Labour government. It is claimed that the service provides people with “the opportunity to reach a potentially wider audience and to deliver (their) petition directly to Downing Street.” All seems very admirable on the surface. However, I (and others) am less trusting of the intent. Are Labour interested in your views or your email addresses? I suspect that these admirable people who have taken the time to post a view will receive government (Labour) “policy initiative” announcements in the near future. The viral email approach so derided by the Transport Minister over the weekend, may very well be the same technique used by the Labour Party come the next election. Or am I being too cynical about this government?
