The language of politics is 'shallow and threadbare', says poet laureate

Simon Armitage criticised politicians’ use of cliches in a discussion about ‘truth’, this year’s theme for National Poetry Day

The language of politics is so “shallow and threadbare” that it has stopped “feeling like it has any truthfulness at all”, the newly minted poet laureate Simon Armitage has said.

Armitage, speaking on a new podcast from National Poetry Day and Michael O’Mara Books to celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary, said that when politicians use cliches it feels like “some kind of screen being erected in front of you”.

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