It may be a terrible time to be alive but it’s a great time to be a political comedian, says Matt Forde-Matt Forde-Entertainment – Metro

All the gaffes and scandals at Westminster are a political comic’s dream (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It may be a terrible time to be alive but it’s a great time to be a political comedian.

Every scandal, every crisis and every gaffe is material. Being governed by a law-breaking liar has driven me mad as a citizen.

Watching minister after minister defend the oaf on TV and radio, telling us all that he was the right man to lead the country made me angry.

He was never good enough to be Prime Minister and he only won because Labour had managed to find a leader who was thicker, vainer and, incredibly, scruffier.

You might think this presents a challenge. How can you make politics funny when it’s already so ludicrous?

As someone who started doing political comedy during the Coalition years, you’ll have to trust me that recent times have been so much easier to joke about.

Matt insists that ‘recent times have been so much easier to joke about’ (Picture: Dave)

Boris only won because Labour had managed to find a leader who was scruffier, says Matt (Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Firstly, audiences are way more aware of what’s going on. I don’t have to explain who people or what particular policies are anymore. Which is never a great start for a comedy show anyway.

‘Who’s read the Highways Act of 1980? Come on, someone must have! OK, well it consolidated the 1959 to 1971 Acts and the thing about that is… oh come on, don’t leave. Please. I’m just getting to the funny bit. Yes I know I said that last time’.

The main problem I have is that I love politics and what it can do. It has the power to radically change lives for the better. The right decisions can ensure people are healthier, wealthier, safer, happier and live longer.

How can you make politics funny when it’s already so ludicrous? (Picture: Supplied)

Despite being a comedian I’m not naturally cynical. I’m an optimist and a bit of a dreamer. I want to be inspired by politicians.

Instead, since 2014 I’ve been deeply cynical about so many of them. It doesn’t suit me. I know so many great politicians in all parties, but for so long they’ve been marginalised in favour of the demagogues and populists.

Things are changing for the better though. Boris Johnson is on his way out and Keir Starmer has replaced Jeremy Corbyn.

Of course this presents a far bigger risk: if things do get better, what am I going to joke about?

I’ll just have to cross my fingers and hope someone brings in a new Highway Act. Oh come on, don’t walk out…

Matt Forde plays Clowns To The Left of Me, Jokers To The Right for a month long run at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Pleasance Beyond, plus is set to interview Anas Sarwar on the 15th Aug and Joanna Cherry on the 22nd Aug over his live Political Party Ed Fringe specials. More info and tickets via his website.

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