Tony Blair was a fax and handwritten note man to the end, it is said.

But Gordon knows how to send and email and the surf the internet.

And for any gaps in the supremo’s techno-literacy he has a digital communications team to fill in.

You only need to look at the Obama campaign to see how politics is done and elections are won in the digital age.

It is no surprise that most MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates have a website and sometimes even a blog through which they keep in touch with their constituents and allies.

Often they promise much, like Bridget Prentice’s Letter from Lewisham, which she calls “my regular column for constituents”.

And deliver little - the last solitary post was made on July 25.

It is probably no surprise either that the ppc’s are in some cases way ahead in the use of the internet.

You can track every move of the Liberal Democrat ppc for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Duncan Borrowman, for example through his constant Twittering.

At 4.51am yesterday he was in the queue for the Woolwich Ferry. At 2.39pm on November 19 he was kept waiting by Brian Eno.

All well and good, if you don’t have a life of your own and like to live vicariously through someone like Mr Borrowman who is clearly going places and enjoys rubbing shoulders with celebrities.

But at 7.44am on November 9, Mr Borrowman texted “I have failed as a real man.”

And he doesn’t say why. How frustrating. Do tell us more.

There are some MPs who just haven’t grasped the interweb thingy.

MP for Orpington John Horam flies in the face of those bloggers and commentators who think Cameron’s Tories are a more digitally literate bunch than Labour, by using his website to plug his newspaper.

I know not everyone has access to the internet and there is still a place in the world for the printed word, but the last edition of his newspaper came out in January.

In some constituencies there is entertaining online jousting between political rivals.

This week the Conservative ppc for Eltham, David Gold ganged up with a Plumstead based Tory blogger called The Last Boy Scout to have a pop at MP Clive Efford.

On his blog Mr Gold reported that “Eltham's current Labour MP has had his honesty questioned by a constituent”.

Mr Gold wrote: “The Last Boy Scout, sent a postcard asking the MP to sign an Early Day Motion calling on the government to do more to help save our pubs (government tax rises on beer this year are said to be partly to blame for so many closing across London).

“Efford replied saying that as Parliamentary Private Secretary to a Minister, he was not allowed to sign EDMs.

“Strange, then, that Efford has signed at least three in the last few weeks.”

Mr Gold goes onto say that Mr Efford has since clarified his original reply saying he can't sign EDMs asking for changes in government policy however supportive he is of the proposal.

And writes: “Do we assume, then, that he is at odds with his own government?

“If so, it begs the question - shouldn't he resign so he can fight to save Eltham's pubs?”

For the record, the 31-year-old author of the Last Boy Scout Simon Emmett, lists membership of CAMRA among his interests.

But the former youth worker and taxi driver who has been MP for Eltham since 1997, does not.

The most up to date post I found at the time of writing was by Lewisham and Deptford MP Joan Ruddock, posted yesterday at 4.33pm.

Ms Ruddock welcomed the news that Lewisham Council had given the go-ahead to redevelopment of Deptford Station, scheduled to begin in 2009.

But wait, Ms Ruddock has been just been pipped by the London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, James Cleverley, who also posted yesterday in praise of the Safer Bromley Awards.

And today his thoughts about the Chancellor Alistair Darling.

In these fast moving times of instant online publishing it would seem that it is possible to be out of date before you finish typing your sentence.