Eddie Izzard commits to running for “Parliament or Mayor” by 2020

Comic and actor Eddie Izzard has reaffirmed his longstanding commitment to entering electoral politics by 2020, by going for a Labour parliamentary selection or London Mayor. Izzard is a lifelong Labour supporter (and Londoner) and has spoken in the past of his desire to become London Mayor. However, the recent announcement that Boris Johnson does not intend to stand for a third term has raised the chances of Labour winning the mayoralty in 2016, and thus there being a Labour incumbent in 2020.

Therefore, Izzard has modified his ambitions slightly. He told The Big Issue magazine that “if there is someone else [from the Labour Party] in the job as London Mayor” he could stand as an MP instead. Or, as an outspoken advocate of the European Union, standing to be an MEP may also be on the cards. Here’s the relevant part of the interview:

Asked if he still intends to run, the comic told The Big Issue: “That is still very much on for 2020. I’ll be doing that.”

“It could be standing as an MP if there is someone else [from Labour] in the job as London mayor,” he added. “But yes, I’ll either be standing for parliament or for mayor by then.”

Izzard campaigned in London at the elections earlier this year, as well as for Ken Livingstone in 2012, and starred in this election broadcast in 2010.