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Fight Labour online, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis says Fight Labour online, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis says
(35 minutes later)
The Conservatives need to take the fight to Labour on social media, the party's new chairman has said.The Conservatives need to take the fight to Labour on social media, the party's new chairman has said.
Brandon Lewis said the Tories intended to use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram more to "talk" to voters.Brandon Lewis said the Tories intended to use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram more to "talk" to voters.
Mr Lewis told the Sunday Telegraph a "toolkit" of graphics and videos would be given to young supporters to help expand the party's visibility online.Mr Lewis told the Sunday Telegraph a "toolkit" of graphics and videos would be given to young supporters to help expand the party's visibility online.
Labour's ability to appeal to young voters online was a key part of its 2017 general election campaign.Labour's ability to appeal to young voters online was a key part of its 2017 general election campaign.
Mr Lewis, who took over as party chairman in last week's government reshuffle, acknowledged the Conservatives needed to motivate supporters to promote them on social media.Mr Lewis, who took over as party chairman in last week's government reshuffle, acknowledged the Conservatives needed to motivate supporters to promote them on social media.
The Great Yarmouth MP said: "What I want to see out there is more and more of our activists and people who support some of the principles we're outlining, whether it's a particular policy or a whole package of government reforms, getting out there in the digital world saying so and spreading that message with us."The Great Yarmouth MP said: "What I want to see out there is more and more of our activists and people who support some of the principles we're outlining, whether it's a particular policy or a whole package of government reforms, getting out there in the digital world saying so and spreading that message with us."
He added the party needed to be "very positive and proactive about outlining what we're doing in government... so we can enthuse them about being Conservative and... not just vote for us but get involved".He added the party needed to be "very positive and proactive about outlining what we're doing in government... so we can enthuse them about being Conservative and... not just vote for us but get involved".
Mr Lewis said his focus would be on getting the party "battle ready" for the next general election and prepared for some "really difficult local elections" in May.Mr Lewis said his focus would be on getting the party "battle ready" for the next general election and prepared for some "really difficult local elections" in May.
He added: "It's not just young people, older people are accessing their information through the digital world as well... It's important that we've got to engage through that medium."He added: "It's not just young people, older people are accessing their information through the digital world as well... It's important that we've got to engage through that medium."
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Lewis defended the Tories' failure to provide figures for the total number of party members they have.
According to some estimates, their numbers have fallen behind Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats.
Asked how it compared with Labour's membership, which has surged beyond 500,000, Mr Lewis said he was "not going to play a numbers game", and that he planned to obtain an overall figure which was not currently available.
The party has a "huge number" of members and activists across the country, he added.