As part of an exclusive online feature, each week Total Politics interviews a key figure in the British blogosphere. This week is the turn of Paul Walter, aka Liberal Burblings. He speaks to us about the “repetitive” nature of UK politics and whether Clegg will be a kingmaker.
In your blurb, you refer to British politics as “occasionally mind numbingly serious”. Why do you say that?
It’s got a bit more interesting now that the polls have got tighter. But for a year or two, I just found it’s very much the same old thing. I’ve been interested in, and following, politics for about 20 years now. It all goes in cycles and gets a bit repetitive.
You write “when and what you feel like”. Do you feel there’s a pressure to keep blogging?
Iain Dale said that you’ve got to blog once a day. But a lot of people break that rule who are much better bloggers than me, such as James Graham who only blogs once a fortnight and Alix Mortimer who only blogs once every three months and they’re much better than me. But yes, I suppose I do.
Do you see the Lib Dems as kingmakers?
In terms of morale and the unity of the party, I’ve never known it better. Spring conference was just amazing. Someone said they went to a spring conference about 20 years ago, and there were only two journalists there. It’s just absolutely amazing that Nick Clegg is managing to be universally popular in the party and that we got fantastic media attention, maybe because there were no other stories around, luckily. We usually only get to the top of the news when there’s something negative going on.
What are your thoughts on yesterday’s Budget?
The elephant in the room is what he’s going to cut. I think it’s £32bn they said they’re going to cut later on in the year. It’s all a bit of silly “dancing round the handbags” at the moment. The sooner there’s an election the better.
Favourite politician
Paddy Ashdown
Least favourite politician
Nick Griffin
Favourite blogger (other than you)
Taegan Goodard – Political Wire (US politics site)
Least favourite blogger
Guido Fawkes
In the film of your life, who would play you?
John Cleese
If you could change one thing about British politics, what would it be?
An elected Senate to replace the House of Lords, because it would mark a completely fresh start and seismic shift in the political culture of the UK – which I think is needed.