Lib Dems most likely to tweet about LGBT issues, UKIP about Top Gear
According to an analytics study, Liberal Democrat supporters are the most likely to post online about LGBT issues.
Crimson Hexagon analysed data from social media to explore the link between supporters of political parties and their interests.
The study found that Lib Dems are eight times as likely to tweet about LGBT issues compared to an average user – while supporters of the UK Independence Party are a whopping 30 times more likely to tweet about BBC car show Top Gear.
Marketing manager Liliana Osorio said: “Social media delivers an unparalleled insight into people’s lives and how they think and feel about particular issues- it’s the world’s biggest focus group.
“In the first truly social election, politicians should be sitting up and taking notice of their supporters’ interests; they have a unique opportunity to understand the associated issues and interests their supporters care about and use this to inform the final weeks of their campaigning.”
The Liberal Democrats recently backed plans to pardon 49,000 men convicted of historic gay sex offences – with Justice Minister Simon Hughes pledging to make it a condition of any future coalition agreement if the matter is not settled before the election.
Labour party leader Ed Miliband also backed the campaign this week, saying: “I think we owe it to the LGBT community to make this move.”
People with historic gay sex convictions who are still alive can already have them expunged under 2012’s Protection of Freedoms Act – but records cannot be expunged posthumously.
