THE long-held public perception that MPs are paid to sit around Parliament twiddling their thumbs all day may finally have been proven, writes Luke James. 

But not in the way your average cynic would imagine.

Research released yesterday by lobbying firm Westminster PA shows a majority of MPs are now using Twitter.

The number of MPs on the social media site has soared from just 111 to 461 since the last general election in 2010. 

Respect MP George Galloway has become Parliament’s most prolific button basher by sending or sharing over 16,000 messages this year alone. 

Labour’s top tweeter is Hull East MP Karl Turner, the Lib Dems' is party president Tim Farron and the Tories' is wild card MP Michael Fabricant. 

Westminster PA director Olly Kendal explained Twitter is now for everything from “grumbling about the late running of trains to announcing resignations and breaking news on government reshuffles.

“The greatest surprises is that almost 30 per cent of MPs still do not recognise the potential benefits it offers,” he added.