Twitter: a hit at conference

Oh dear – here we are again – hashtag taxonomies again, snigger, snigger.

Actually, twittering from conference is working quite well.  It’s all the more important when hotels and conference centres are charging obscene fees for access to wireless access and the useful free internet access is massively oversubscribed.

And there have been really useful uses of the system this afternoon.  I could commission Gavin Whenmen to write about a fringe because I knew he was there because he twittered about it.

A diverse group of twitters attended the Leader’s Q&A and posted a number of vignettes of Clegg’s words:

alexfoster Clegg: coalition discussions are a game of footsie in a Westminster parlour game. #LibDem08

GavinWhenman Nick Clegg: of course David Cameron doesn’t describe himself as a neo-conservative, he describes himself as a cuddly toy. #LibDem08

joswinson at the Nick Clegg members’ Q&A, he’s looking confident and relaxed – good format #LibDem08

alexfoster Conference rep asks the same question as current LDV poll #LibDem08

GavinWhenman Nick Clegg Q&A, sharp criticism of Conservative tax and spend plans: “I dont think ordinary people deserve to be trickled on” #LibDem08

alexfoster Clegg refused to answer if he would call himself “left of centre” #LibDem08

And during the day Twitter has given real vignettes of conference life.  Witness Jo Swinson’s morning run; James Graham’s frustration at the wifi cost; Duncan Hames’s polar bear ice sculpture; Duncan Borrowman’s curry disappointment; James Graham’s frustration at not getting his motion through unamended; Lynne Featherstone showing that MPs aren’t guaranteed to get a slot in debates.

There are many ways to slice the Twitter pie and follow the thoughts of delegates. As I reported earlier, there’s a site bringing together all those using the fabled hashtag.

And as our own Ryan Cullen retorted, there is now a shiny new service from LibDemBlogs.co.uk called Lib Dem Tweets, bringing together all those tweeting publicly who are known Lib Dems. If you’re missing from the feed, drop him a line.