Sir Elton John becomes latest celebrity to endorse Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party

29 June 2024, 18:46 | Updated: 29 June 2024, 20:14

Global superstar Sir Elton John has become the latest celebrity to endorse Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party
Global superstar Sir Elton John has become the latest celebrity to endorse Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party. Picture: Alamy

By Will Conroy

Global superstar Sir Elton John has become the latest celebrity to endorse Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party ahead of the general election.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Sir Elton expressed his support for the party alongside his husband, David Furnish, in a video message played at Labour’s campaign rally in London.

With less than a week to until the 4 July election, Sir Elton's message to supporters was centred around the poor condition of the creative industries and the pledges made by Labour’s election manifesto to improve them.

In the video, the singer-songwriter said it is "heartbreaking to see Britain's next generation of creative talent downtrodden and destroyed by democracy and red tape".

He says the cultural education that was instrumental in his career is "drying up and in danger of dying out completely".

Mr Furnish added that it is "madness to treat a hugely successful sector with such disdain, particularly one that has been the envy of the world for decades".

Sir Elton expressed his support for the party alongside his husband, David Furnish
Sir Elton expressed his support for the party alongside his husband, David Furnish. Picture: Labour

Discussing Labour’s manifesto, he said it "sets out sensible and practical proposals that promise to give every young person a creative education and help young and emerging musicians achieve the routes to success that have been cruelly and pointlessly snatched away from them".

The party has traditionally enjoyed strong support from the creative industry with Sir Elton, who has previously backed the Labour Party, revealing he was a fan of Tony Blair in 2006.

Read more: Luvvies for Labour! Billy Nighy and Imelda Staunton among stars to throw their weight behind Starmer ahead of election

Read more: Sunak wades into trans row between Kemi Badenoch and David Tennant after Dr Who star told minister to 'shut up'

The musician appeared after a host of other celebrities who gave messages of support for the party.

Bill Bailey, the comedian; Kit Harrington, the actor and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden all endorsed Sir Keir’s party.

This comes after Bill Nighby, Hugh Bonneville and Keeley Hawes were among the famous faces to sign a letter endorsing Labour to “end the political chaos”.

Some 131 senior figures from the arts sector put their names to the letter urging 'change' published in the Times.

The letter read: “As leaders, investors and practitioners in the creative industries we believe that our country needs change.

Bill Bailey spoke at the Labour rally in London
Bill Bailey spoke at the Labour rally in London. Picture: Alamy

“We want a government that will value the creative industries and put them at the heart of the drive for growth. Our industry would benefit from the ambition of a Labour government.”

The letter argued that Labour would “end the political chaos of recent years and ensure economic stability”.

This is following a row between David Tennant, who was named Celebrity Ally at the British LGBT awards on Friday, and Kemi Badenoch, after the actor had some choice words to say about the equalities minister when discussing trans rights at the ceremony.

The former Dr Who star said of the Conservative Cabinet minister: "I don't wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up."

Ms Badenoch accused him in turn of being a "rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology".

She said: "I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

‘Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace, and on our streets’: PM raises defence spending by £6 billion a year

Breaking
Breaking News

Pensioner arrested over 'Day of the Jackal threat to kill PM' posted on social media

Police at the scene in central London on Monday at 'Fast Eddie's' mansion

Three knifed at playboy’s notorious £15m London mansion where Bonnie Blue filmed sex party

The body of Scottish businessman Campbell Scott was found in a remote area 60 miles from Nairobi

Scottish businessman's body found in sack in Kenya with 'his hands and feet bound with rope'

A Biscoff ice cream product has been recalled

Popular Biscoff treat urgently recalled from shelves amid health fears after 'undeclared' allergy risk discovered

Polish Armed Forces Day Celebrated In Warsaw, Poland

NATO scrambles warplanes in Poland after Russia launches latest strikes on Ukraine

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal manager) applauds the fans on the final whistle at the Arsenal v West Ham United

'Over my dead body': Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta won't concede Premier League title to Liverpool

Amanda Pritchard's resignation as Chief Executive is expected to be confirmed this afternoon

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard to step down from her role

Jose Mourinho was appointed Fenerbahce manager in 2024

Galatasaray accuse Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of making 'racist statements'

Exclusive
Ofcom will 'name and shame' social media companies that don't take action to cut down abuse of women and girls

Social media companies to be 'named and shamed' for not protecting women and girls online, Ofcom chief tells LBC

Video footage shows police rushing towards the Hart Space during the attack

Horror footage shows moment police rush towards Southport dance studio while killer is still inside

Registered XL Bully dogs must be housed securely, neutered, kept on a lead and muzzled in public

Man in his 80s seriously injured after XL bully attack in Warrington

Ocean Infinity is searching for the downed plane

British team launches 'final search' for MH370, in bid to solve mystery of vanished plane 11 years on

The BBC has pulled the documentary from iPlayer while it does more 'due diligence'

BBC Gaza documentary cameraman ‘celebrated October 7 attacks’ as cost of film is revealed

Bessborough Road, where the crash took place

Pedestrian in her 40s killed in London bus crash as car driver arrested for dangerous driving

Energy bills are set to rise again

Energy bills to increase again as price cap rises more than expected