ONGAR MP Eric Pickles has taken to the internet airwaves as part of an attempt by the Conservative Party to woo young voters ahead of the next general election.

The MP and Tory party chairman is now appearing on hit music website Spotify, which pioneeringly allows users to legally listen to millions of songs for free in exchange for the occasional interruption by adverts.

While many young people may not know who Mr Pickles is - with many of his contemporaries also unlikely to know Spotify regulars such as Pixie Lott, Weezer or Tinchy Stryder - the Conservatives hope the move will help them connect with a generation perceived as bored and alienated by British politics.

Listeners on the site are interrupted by 45 seconds of Mr Pickles, introduced by him saying “with Spotify, you only listen to the stuff you want to hear, right? Well sorry to spoil your day but here's something you don't want to hear."

He goes on to accuse Prime Minister Gordon Brown of “reckless spending”, before going on to urge music fans to vote Tory.

The broadcast ends with Mr Pickles saying: "Sorry for interrupting your listening to tell you all this, but we think it's something you need to hear, and now we'll let you get back to your music."

The move is the latest in a series of stunts by politicianss of all parties to use technology to reach new audiences, build networks of activists and engage with the tech-savy.

Prime Minister Brown famously caused a stir earlier this year with an appearance on video website YouTube.com, while the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg regularly broadcasts his views and updates on his day with the use of social networking site Twitter.