Tony Blair asks punters to chat on instant messaging

Talk to the PM over IM

Tony Blair – a self-confessed "technophobe" - will be turning to instant messaging to chat with the voters.

The PM will be using MSN Messenger to chat to 10 members of the public, who will be invited to put questions to him over IM.

MSN is asking would-be politicos to submit their questions at www.msn.co.uk/pmwebchat. Microsoft will pick the winners, who will be able to ask the question in person to the PM by IM video conversation.

Blair is particularly keen to be grilled on Africa and climate change, MSN said.

Previously, the Prime Minister has pressed the virtual flesh using a mobile chatroom, where the electorate asked Blair's opinions on subjects including Iraq and his favourite guitar solo.