How celebrities are voting in the UK general election-Rebecca Sayce and Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Celebrities are weighing into the 2024 general election (Picture: Getty/Shutterstock)

The 2024 general election is right around the corner and parties are busy campaigning to win your vote.

Public appearances, fierce debates, and questionable advertisement campaigns are all on the agenda as the UK’s political candidates vie for votes on Ju;y 4.

Another key part of political campaigns in recent years has been celebrity endorsements, with parties capitalising on their starry supporters to sway potential voters.

It may sound far-fetched that an actor, singer, or TV personality throwing their vote behind a political party would sway election results, but in 2017 the Grime4Corbyn movement helped Labour win a whopping 77 per cent of the ethnic minority vote.

Many celebrities don’t shy away from rallying for the parties they support, with some even entering the world of politics such as Suzy Eddie Izzard putting in an unsuccessful bid to become the Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion last year.

Glastonbury headliner Dua Lipa has shared their despondent view over this year’s political leaders we’re set to choose between, while comedian Dawn French has taken a different approach, urging people to vote tactically for any party just to get the Tories out.

Here are the celebrities who have publicly endorsed political parties in the UK general election 2024, from Labour to Conservatives, Greens, Reform UK, and independent candidates.

Labour

Gary Neville

Gary joined the Labour Party two years ago (Picture: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville is a signed-up Labour supporter and recently joined leader Keir Starmer for an interview.

The pair enjoyed a stroll at Langdale Pikes in The Lake District where the duo discussed the politician’s plans for power.

Asked by Neville if he already had a team preparing for the prospect of him entering Downing Street, Starmer said yes, adding:’I said “I don’t want you having a conversation on day one, I need you to deliver for me, so you need to be ready to deliver from the get-go”.’

Neville has been fiercely critical of the Conservative Party in recent years and became a member of the Labour Party in 2022.

Tom Kerridge

Tom Kerridge has condemned the Conservative government (Picture: Ki Price/Getty Images)

Tom Kerridge has thrown his support behind the Labour Party, signing a letter alongside 120 business founders and chief executives which said: ‘Labour has shown it has changed and wants to work with business to achieve the UK’s full economic potential.’

The celebrity chef also wrote in a column for The Guardian: ‘It’s hard not to feel that something has fundamentally broken in Britain. Whether it’s water companies that charge us money while pouring sewage into our rivers, bus services that are expensive and patchy, or an NHS that is suffering from years of underinvestment, there’s a keen sense that nothing works properly. All of this has an impact on businesses, because it makes the people who work for them poorer, less resilient and less productive.

‘There are ways to change this – but I’m doubtful they will come from the Conservative party, which is why I won’t be voting for it. One resourceful solution would be slashing VAT to 10% for food sold in restaurants, cafes and so on. That would put us in line with countries such as France and Italy, and would give businesses more money to reinvest in replacing that broken fridge and hiring more staff.’

Dave Rowntree

The drummer will be hoping all the people, so many people, vote for him (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree isn’t just supporting Labour, he’s running as an MP for the party in Mid Sussex.

In a statement, the music icon said: ‘I’m delighted to have the opportunity to become Labour’s first Mid Sussex MP.

‘Residents have their best chance in a generation to make their vote count and return a Labour MP to parliament. The Tories have run out of ideas, and the Lib Dems have run out of steam.

‘I’m running for parliament to provide the energy and vision the area so desperately needs.’

He joins the likes of Gogglebox star Josh Tapper, Gomez founder Tom Gray, and The Sparticle Mystery writer Alison Hume representing the party in this year’s UK general election across different constituencies.

Grayson Perry

The artist put their money where their mouth is when it comes to showing support (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Artist Grayson Perry is among the celebrity donors to the Labour Party.

The writer and broadcaster contributed £180,000 to the party back in January, according to Electoral Commission data.

Fellow artist Maggi Hambling was also among the notable Labour donors, parting with £85,000 in the same month.

Conservative

Bob Geldof

Sir Bob Geldof has pledged his support to a good friend (Picture: Tristar Media/WireImage)

Sir Bob Geldof published a video where he says he will back Tory candidate Andrew Mitchell in the General Election.

The Boomtown Rats singer said: ‘The party that Andrew Mitchell is a member of is not important to me. What is important is that he’s a decent person or else he wouldn’t be a friend of mine, I guess.’

He continued: ‘What we so desperately need in our Parliament, whether again in opposition or in Government, is clever, committed, capable people. We have had enough of leery shysters, buffoons and tiresome w*****s.’

James Cracknell

The athlete shared some harsh words about his own party (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Double Olympic gold medalist James Cracknell is running as a Conservative Party MP in Colchester.

This is despite describing the party as a ‘shower of s**t’ in a video posted to Facebook, saying: ‘Two weeks out from the Olympics if we are competing against the Conservative party my teammates and I would be saying they are a shower of s**t.

‘And if one of my teammates got caught for cheating they’d be dead to me. That abuse of trust is unforgivable.’

His comments come as more allegations emerged that Tory candidates and officials bet on the date of the general election before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced it.

Greens

Massive Attack

Massive Attack posted their support in a rousing social media post (Picture: Iwi Onodera/Redferns)

Trip hop group Massive Attack has endorsed Bristol Central Green Party candidate Carla Denyer.

In a post on X, they said the general election is ‘ an opportunity for Bristol to consolidate its green reputation by electing an MP who is resolutely focused on climate action and unambiguous on the matter of genocide in Gaza.’

‘Carla Denyer is that candidate,’ the post continued.

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan described the Tory government as a ‘debacle’ (Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Brighton Pavillion Green Party candidate Sian Berry shared on social media that she had been joined by comedian Steve Coogan while campaigning.

In an X post, she wrote: ‘Brilliant to have Steve Coogan (!) a real star, backing our campaign today! Such a great day and all the team on the doorsteps and all the Brighton people behind the doors are also stars for the support they are showing us each and every day. Full of thanks! #VoteGreen’

In a video she posted, Coogan described the politician as ‘fantastic’ and ‘pleaded’ with voters to ‘get out there and send a message to this debacle of a government’ by voting Green.

Kevin McCloud

Following his move to North Herefordshire, he will be voting for the Green Party candidate (Picture: Brittany Long/Getty Images)

Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud revealed he would be voting for the Green Party in an interview last month.

In a video shared on Facebook, he showed his support for North Herefordshire’s Green Party candidate Ellie Chowns.

The TV star said he would be voting for Chowns because ‘she’s brilliant and she has huge experience as an MEP and as a local councillor driving change here in this county.’

She is also reportedly being supported by long-time Green Party advocate Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Reform UK

Holly Valance

The singer has shifted her allegiance (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Rebecca Vallance)

Holly Valance has gone from a pop icon to a staunch supporter of the right-wing group Reform UK.

Earlier this month the Kiss Kiss singer helped to raise £1.5 million for Nigel Farage’s campaign, donating £50,000.

She was also reportedly considering standing as an MP for the party, telling The Standard: ‘It’s not going to work for me – it was very difficult logistics-wise.’

It comes after she previously backed Conservative MP Lee Anderson, before telling GB News’ Political Podcast earlier: ‘Last time I voted Conservatives, next time I’ll be voting Reform.’

Ant Middleton

Ant Middleton previously called Nigel Farage his ‘very close friend’ (Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage)

Former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton threw support behind Nigel Farage – who he branded a ‘true gentleman’ – on his return to frontline politics.

Speaking to GB News ahead of the upcoming election, after Farage was met with a rather unfriendly start to his election campaign, Middleton said ‘there’s only one thing that should happen’.

He went on: ‘Who made the decision for us to break away from the European Union? Nigel Farage, right. And he’s coming again. That guy is a true English gentleman who relates with the public.

‘Unfortunately he’s had his voice silenced [before] but that guy changed the European Union with Brexit. He came in and he went out but he’s coming back in now, so listen to him.

‘Hopefully he’ll stay this time if things do work in his favour, he won’t bail out and he’ll stay. But I believe that’s the only way we have moving forward.’

Middleton added that Farage is a ‘very close friend’ of his, having met a few times.

Workers Party of Britain

Lowkey

Rapper Lowkey is supporting the Workers Party of Britain (Picture: Martin Pope/Getty Images)

The Workers Party of Britain formed in 2019 after Labour’s defeat in the general election, with the aim to ‘build a new working class politics in Britain’.

With George Galloway having won a by-election in Rochdale earlier this year, the party targets left-wing voters who are disillusioned with the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer.

It also aims to send a message to the Labour leader over his position on the conflict in Gaza.

Rapper Lowkey made a speech at a Workers Party of Britain rally in Rochdale in February, in which he discussed Gaza and the by-election.

Lowkey went to Gaza with Galloway in 2009 as part of the Viva Palestina aid convoys, and earlier this year credited him for ’embodying the spirit of Palestine action before there was Palestine action’.

He added in a YouTube video: ‘George Galloway should be supported in Rochdale and people should vote for him.’

Independent candidates

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton has endorsed independent candidate Andrew Feinstein (Picture: Harry Herd/Redferns)

Earlier this month Eric Clapton publicly endorsed independent candidate for Holborn & St Pancras, Andrew Feinstein.

Mr Feinstein’s campaign website writes: ‘Tories and Labour choose to squeeze working people as the super-rich get richer. The two main parties refuse to tax the extremely wealthy, protect the NHS from further privatisation, or bring in rent caps. Voting for Labour will change nothing.’

He continues: ‘As an Independent, I’ll listen to local people, not billionaires. I’ll work for more and improved social housing, funding for our public services, and an end to the main parties’ support for genocide.’

The rocker shared support for the former Labour politician on social media explaining how he was doing so in ‘his fight for the children of Gaza, for the freedom of the people of Palestine, and for the soul of the human race… Against the genocide in Gaza… For love and truth.’

Roger Waters

Roger Waters has also shown his support for the candidate (Picture: Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

Roger Walters quoted Eric Clapton’s post and shared it on his own profile, writing: ‘El, my dear friend we stand together. Love you brother.’

Clapton previously expressed support for Walters after one of his shows in Germany was cancelled over accusations of antisemitism.

Eric wrote at the time, as per Far Out: ‘I love Roger. I love him. We are brothers and he goes his way about it, and it takes a lot of guts, and he suffers from it terribly.

‘I’ve seen him sit on the window ledge in tears and say “It’s morning here in Manhattan and I’m in tears again’.”

Rob Delaney

Rob Delaney will be supporting Jeremy Corbyn (Picture: Disney General Entertainment Con)

It looks as though Rob Delaney will be supporting Jeremy Corbyn as he stands as an independent MP.

In June, Rob joined the former Labour leader in his campaign to regain his Islington North seat.

The Deadpool star told the crowd of how Mr Corbyn was a ‘wonderful constituent MP’ and a ‘fantastic guy’, as per The Independent.

The actor previously voiced his opinions on privatising healthcare, calling it a ‘disgusting operation’. He also responded to the Israel-Hamas war on social media in October.

While sharing sympathy for those who had lost lives in Israel, the 46-year-old comedian also highlighted how terrifying the situation was for Palestinians living in Gaza, as he said: ‘I feel such abject futility in writing this as Israel’s military has stated its plan to commit effective genocide in Gaza.

‘Their order for the residents of northern Gaza to evacuate is impossible to implement. They know it, we know it. Children in Gaza, most born after Hamas took power, know it. These children are going to die shortly, joining their peers who have already been killed.’

He then drew attention to governments’ abuses of power, continuing: ‘I’m American but I live in the UK so I pay taxes to two countries who will explicitly aid and sanction this genocide. This genocide will be carried out with American and British weapons.’

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