Councillors will be allowed to tweet and send emails from the council chamber under new guidance.

Brighton and Hove City Council is to relax the rules on mobile phone use as a way of encouraging greater interaction between politicians and the public.

It follows a number of arguments about whether it is disrespectful to use social media site Twitter during meetings.

Former council leader Mary Mears was one of the most critical.

But central services cabinet member Jason Kitcat believes the changes will bring the rules into the 21st century.

Coun Kitcat described opponents to the change as “luddites” adding: “It’s about accepting reality.

“Despite the current guidelines, there are members from all parties that are catching up on emails in the chamber.

“At the moment live feedback is limited to the small number of people in the public gallery.”

Current guidance states all mobile phones belonging to councillors and council officers must be switched off in the chamber.

Speaking yesterday, Coun Mears said: “I still have not changed my views from when it was brought up before. I still do not support it.

“I believe we are there to represent the city and should be concentrating on what is going on rather than political back stabbing while the meeting is going on.”