Hague in 'email alert'

"E-verts" were used extensively in the US last year

Computer users be warned - a virtual William Hague is coming your way.

The move is part of a Conservative Party e-mail campaign to rally support for its "Save the Pound" policy.

We expect to see PCs crash throughout the land

Fraser Kemp

The campaign could see thousands of virtual Hagues running around cyberspace by the weekend.

Tory officials are planning to send out 20,000 emails by Saturday and are hoping that "forwarding" will help them to reach at least 100,000 computer users.

Latest technique

The campaign is based on the latest electioneering technique from the US - "e-vert".

Computer users who click on the email will hear the familiar Yorkshire tones of the Tory leader ringing out from their terminals.

This virtual William Hague will tell recipients that it would be "plain daft" for Britain to sign up to the euro.

Tory campaigners who organised the stunt are hoping that recipients - most of whom gave their e-mail addresses on Save the Pound pledge cards - will copy it to at least five other users, giving a potential audience of 100,000.

However, the Tories have not forgotten their more traditional supporters who may still not have come to grips with surfing the worldwide web.

Traditional events

Saturday will see more traditional campaigning events in some 400 constituencies, with 1,200 Save the Pound stalls.

The real Mr Hague will be appearing in his Richmond constituency in North Yorkshire.

Tories, who say that they have managed to collect a million signatures so far in support of their campaign, are aiming to add another 200,000 to their tally over the weekend.

And if that was not enough, next week local newspapers will be bombarded with St Valentine's Day personal advertisements declaring "I love the pound".

The Labour Party has thrown a bucket of virtual cold water over the campaign.

Labour MP Fraser Kemp said: "We expect to see PCs crash throughout the land as people try and rid their computers of this unwanted virus.

"Voters don't support William Hague's right-wing policies and they don't share his extreme views on the euro."