UK lawmakers vote to allow Twitter in Commons

(AP) -- Things will still be Twittering in the Houses of Parliament.

A move to ban the micro-blogging site failed Thursday as lawmakers declined to give up their smartphones in the name of decorum.

Some senior Conservative-party lawmakers had claimed that use of mobile phones and iPads would bring the chamber into "disrepute" and sought to ban the use of Twitter and other microblogging sites while in the House of Commons.

Opponents of the move had said Tweeting helped lawmakers stay informed and in touch with constituents.

The proposal was defeated by lawmakers 206 to 63 Thursday evening.

Lawmakers also formally adopted a motion to allow the use of electronic devices in the chamber - previously, the use of iPhones, BlackBerrys and other devices was tolerated informally.

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