Comedian Eddie Izzard announces new bid to become Labour MP in Brighton

04 August 2023 , 13:05

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Comedian Eddie Izzard announces new bid to become Labour MP in Brighton

Comedian Eddie Izzard has announced she is battling to be a Labour MP in Brighton at the next election.

The comic star, who also uses the name of Suzy, has thrown her hat in the ring to be Labour candidate for Brighton Pavilion. Labour is eying the East Sussex seat, which has been held by the Green Party's only MP Caroline Lucas for 13 years.

Ms Lucas is standing down at the next election, leaving a prime opportunity for Labour to try to overturn her 19,940-strong majority. It holds the nearby seats of Hove, and Brighton Kemptown.

It marks Eddie's latest bid to secure a Westminster seat after she failed to win the race to be Labour's candidate in Sheffield Central last year. She would be Labour's first transgender MP if elected.

Comedian Eddie Izzard wants to be Labour's candidate in Brighton Pavilion at the next election

Eddie told the Brighton Argus: “I really want to be in politics. My heritage is down here and I will bring all the energy from everything I’ve done before.

Eddie Izzard says she has new name and people can choose which to use

“I want to promote the successes of Brighton so people in this country and around the world can know more and more about it.”

She praised the outgoing MP Caroline Lucas but added: "One MP can’t make a government. The Green Party is the party of protest, the Conservative Party is the party of chaos and Labour is the party of governance. We have a very good chance of being in government at the next election and if you want green policies in and if you want good governance, then vote me in."

She added: "My mum died when I was six years old and I’ve been a fighter since then. If you want that energy, I’m right here and ready to go."

Eddie, 61, said politics can be "quite dry" and said her comedy background could be an asset in Parliament.

The comedian, who is genderfluid but prefers to use she/her pronouns, added the name 'Suzy' to her name earlier this year. She continues to use the name 'Eddie' too. She has said she is relaxed about what people call her, saying: "So no one can really get it wrong unless they call me Kenneth or Sabrina. I am remaining Eddie Izzard in public. Thank you. Suzy/Eddie."

She has spoken previously about the abuse she suffered after coming out as transgender 30 years ago, saying trans people were "considered toxic and not part of society".

Several other candidates are expected to come forward for the seat. Labour has not set a timetable for the selection process but it is likely to be in the autumn, ahead of a general election next year.

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Lizzy Buchan