The digitisation of the political process is stepping up as it emerges that Westminster is going to allow select bloggers access to the parliamentary lobby system, which has previously only been the realm of professional journalists.

It is going to mean that bloggers will get access to the off-camera government briefings given by the PM’s press spokesman. That could be really interesting and democratizing effectively expanding the lobby beyond the small group of journalists that it currently comprises.

PRWeek reports that talks have been taking place between the Commons authorities and Financial Times political editor George Parker, who chairs the parliamentary press gallery.

He says the system is being tested on a case-by-case basis and that “because it’s a new form of journalism and the authorities are having to adapt”.

Ironically, Commons authorities are understood to be “concerned that an influx of bloggers into the lobby could further undermine the reputation of Parliament”. Okay, if you say so as bloggers are clearly the problem.

Does that sound like MPs are worried what bloggers might uncover with their lobby pass?

“What the Commons authorities are concerned about is that there should be no precedent set that would create a free-for-all. They don’t want to have the House of Commons over-run by bloggers,” Parker said.

Parker goes onto to say that initially they are only likely to give a pass to people who are operating for a respectable news organisation or website with a reasonably large. They are also keen to see it used for journalism rather than coming “commenting on stuff”.

That sounds a little prescriptive and old school. Blogs mix news and comment like bartenders mix gin and tonic. Sometimes there is very little between them.

Whatever else it shows it is a further sign of the role that social media is going to play in the 2010 General Election.

Elsewhere today more news of what the Labour Party is up to with its social media strategy.

Campaign reports today that it is to use online real-time feedback directly from the public via Twitter to inform its nationwide campaign.

This follows Labour’s #Changewesee campaign that has been spread successfully via social media. The Change We See has used Twitter, Facebook and Flickr to highlight the real changes the Government has made to people’s lives such as building schools and hospitals.

But as Labour continues to develop its social media campaigning it really needs to pay attention to the report just out that highlights how it is lagging when it comes to effectively using email and integrating social media into that.

Return Path found that it simply wasn’t doing this. And that is a big opportunity. Email is a great space to tell your story, share links and get people digitally involved with what you are doing.

Oh yeah and money. People will give you money if you ask for it in your emails. They might not come out and campaign on the doorstep, but handing over £5 is not such a reach.

It has been widely reported that the “donate now” button proved incredibly effective for Barrack Obama’s digital campaign team in the 2008 presidential elections. The Obama team is estimated to have raised around $500m online with two-thirds of that coming via email as people hit the donate button.

Most of those donations were small (in the region of $6), but that soon builds up.

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