Meet the Lib Dem bloggers: Olly Grender

Welcome to the latest in our series giving the human face behind some of the blogs you can find on the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator.

Today it is Olly Grender, who blogs over on the New Statesman website.

1. What’s your formative political memory?
A toss up between my Mum voting in favour of joining Europe in the referendum and my Dad feeling agitated about and improving workers rights in industry.

2. When did you start blogging?
In January, so please be gentle with me! (though all constructive feedback from fellow LibDems welcome).

3. Why did you start blogging?
Have been thinking of doing it for some time, as occasionally you need a few more words than Twitter or broadcasting allows – plus the New Statesman asked me!

4. What five words would you use to describe your blog?
Politics, liberalism, media, coalition, punditry.

5. What five words would you use to describe your political views?
Liberal – that is all.

6. Which post have you most liked writing in the last year (and why)?
As a total novice there is little to choose from. However I enjoyed having a pop at the Daily Telegraph in this one about Nick Clegg’s Red Box.

7. Which post have you most liked reading in the last year (and why)?
I thought this was the most astounding blog of 2010. It’s by Peter Watt, former General Secretary to the Labour Party, and it summed up in so many ways why working with Labour right now would be such a challenge because, as Peter describes, they currently have an inability to listen and struggle to believe that others in politics wish to do good.

8. What’s your favourite YouTube clip?
God would love to do something political but I LOVE this Virgin Atlantic ad soooooooooo beautifully done I could watch it over and over. Enjoy!

9. Which bloggers, writers or thinkers inspire you?
I like writers that surprise, even if I disagree, such as Peter Oborne, John Rentoul and Matthew Parris. The amount of work Andrew Rawnsley puts into both his books and columns rewards the reader. If you share my fascination with the use of rhetoric then Max Atkinson’s blog is a brilliant guide and I love reading Gaby Hinsliff.

Recently I have been really impressed with the insights into the Lib Dem side of the coalition with Allegra Stratton at the Guardian. Paul Waugh on Politics Home is the essential political blog in spite of his recent move from the Evening Standard to Politics Home.

10. Give us a surprising fact about yourself:
I played the clarinet in a jazz band as a teenager.