I wouldn't normally take an interest in domestic British politics apart from the causes of Scottish and Welsh nationalism and keeping an eye on the UK Green Party or following any moves towards a British republic or doing a vulturewatch on Tony Blair. Yep, I have no interest in British politics at all.

But (via The Guardian's Newsblog), I've come across Guacamoleville, the blog of the Hartlepool by-election, held on September 30.

This by-election was seen as another measure of Blair's popularity coinciding with the Labour Conference in Brighton. Labour's Iain Wright won the by-election and Blair, and Britain's committment to Iraq, survived the conference. Not anywhere near so successful in Hartlepool were the Tories, whose Jeremy Middleton came fourth in the poll with an unbelievable 9 per cent of the vote. Disturbingly, the UK Independence Party outpolled them. Goodness me, Michael Howard!

The other highlight of Hartlepool came during the declaration of the poll when Fathers 4 Justice candidate Paul Watson (139 votes) threw purple powder over Liberal Democrat candidate Jody Dunn (10719 votes).

Incidentally, Jody Dunn's own blog hasn't been updated since the morning of the election.

Guacamoleville is the work of Andrew Stevens, who had previously blogged the London Mayoral election in June with Race 4 City Hall. It's seems he's off to do the Tory Conference next week before the Tories become extinct. (If only...)

The Conservative Party Conference begins in Bournemouth on Monday October 4. The party website tells me on Friday night UK time that "Our plans are already taking shape. As the Conference draws nearer, we will keep you posted on progress."

They've got a busy weekend ahead of them.