Stephen Manion

With the rise of social networking sites on the internet such as Facebook and Myspace, I raised the issue on whether these need to be included in our register of interests

This is part of the reply i received.

"have looked at the groups and I have to say that some of them appear to be rather more than social networking sites.  Were they only social networking sites I would say that you would not have to register.   The relevant part of the Code is paragraph 8(1)(a)(ii)(cc).  The issue is whether any of these groups are a "body - one of whose principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion or policy (including any political party or trade union)".  It doesn't seem to me to matter whether or not these groups actually meet up or whether they are 'virtual'.  The issue is whether they are recognisable as a body of people having common aims which include those mentioned in paragraph 8(1)(a)(ii)(cc).  

If we take Ban Plastic Bags in Britain for instance, it seems to me quite clear from the information provided about the group and from the entries that the group is directed towards influencing the use of carrier bags in the U.K. I feel that you will need to register membership of this group.  Likewise, the Charlie Elphicke in Dover and Deal Group is clearly political.  

 You will need to decide in each case what the aims of the group are and then, make a decision in respect of each individually