Clarke 'too old' to Twitter

The success of Twitter – which allows users to post messages of up to 140 characters – hit new heights on Thursday night during and after the televised leaders' debate as tens of thousands of messages were posted and activists and press officers used it to carry out their spin war.

But at 69, Mr Clarke remains more of a traditionalist and says he is "not persuaded" to take it up.

"My colleague once suggested I should try twittering but he rapidly gave up the idea," said Mr Clarke with a smile. It's a generation thing. I'm sure twittering is a very important and uplifting process, I think it's just come too late for me. That's the trouble."

Tory Chairman Eric Pickles caused a storm on Twitter this week, when he posted a message about shirts which accidentally omitted the letter "r".