Eddie Izzard has lost out in a bid to become a Labour candidate for a Brighton constituency.
The 61-year-old comedian had hoped to contest Brighton Pavilion at the next UK general election. The seat has been held since 2010 by the only Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, who is standing down at the next election.
The party has instead chosen Tom Gray, a musician and activist who won the Mercury Prize with the band Gomez in 1998.
I'm Tom Gray.
I'm your neighbour; a fierce, effective campaigner.
I know the needs of our community and will deliver for our city.
Select me, and we'll bring Brighton Pavilion back to Labour.
Let's get it together! pic.twitter.com/l7o9ulZsvO— Tom Gray For Brighton Pavilion (@TG4Pavilion) November 10, 2023
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In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Gray said he was “delighted and humbled to be selected”. He also thanked Izzard and the other potential candidates for showing “such solidarity and integrity on the trail”.
The bid to contest the Brighton seat was Izzard’s latest attempt to enter Westminster politics after she tried unsuccessfully last year to become Labour’s candidate for Sheffield Central.
Izzard, who has long campaigned for Labour, previously said if she became a constituency MP it would be her main job, and she would use her comedy skills for charity.
The stand-up comic has in the past spoken about her gender-fluid identity and request to be referred to with she/her pronouns.
