Eddie Izzard launches bid to win place on Labour’s NEC

Eddie Izzard will run for a place on Labour’s National Executive Committee, he has announced. The actor and comedian has been a Labour Party member for over 20 years and has in the past spoken of his ambition to stand for political office as an MP, MEP, or even Mayor of London.

Izzard has done high profile campaigning for Labour in the last two general elections and the 2012 London Mayor, as well as for a No vote in the Scottish independence referendum. A fervent supporter of the EU, he is also planning on playing a role supporting a Remain vote in this year’s EU referendum.

While he will not run on a slate in the NEC election, his name recognition could be a factor in helping him get elected. Along with Ken Livingstone, who is running for re-election on the left wing Grassroots Alliance ticket, Izzard is the most well-known candidate.

His personal political beliefs are largely unknown, but he describes himself as a “radical moderate” and backed Andy Burnham in last year’s leadership contest.

Writing for the Daily Mirror today, Izzard writes: “I am announcing my intention to run for Labour’s National Executive Committee.

“After many years of campaigning for Labour I want to take the next step and get more closely involved by representing members.

“I have been a member of the Labour Party for 20 years. I have campaigned in over 100 seats, from the top to the bottom of the country and tiny towns and big cities in between.”

Izzard is running for the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) section of the NEC, where Labour members elect six representatives, and voting will take place this summer.

This weekend sees another NEC election, as James Elliott and Jasmine Beckett run to replace the outgoing Bex Bailey as the youth representative. The election will take place at Young Labour Conference in Scarborough this weekend, with attending delegates eligible to vote.