AFP/London
British comedian and activist Russell Brand yesterday dropped his anti-voting stance and endorsed the centre-left Labour Party in a tweet to his 9.6mn followers ahead of the general election.
“You’ve got to vote Labour, you’ve got to get the Conservative Party out of government in this country,” he said in a video, filmed on his bed, attached to the tweet.
Following his interview with opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband last week, Brand said he had become convinced that as prime minister Miliband would be more willing to listen to “community-led activism” than the current Conservative premier, David Cameron.
“What’s important is this bloke (Miliband) will be in parliament and I think this bloke will listen to us,” Brand told his followers.
“I think we’ve got no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative Party,” he added.
Cameron had dismissed as a “joke” Miliband’s interview with Trews - the shaggy-haired, bead-wearing star’s YouTube channel.
Brand, the ex-husband of singer Katy Perry, has recast himself as a political activist in recent years, releasing a book called “Revolution” and campaigning against the gentrification of London.
But he is a polarising figure in Britain, with some accusing him of double standards for railing against capitalism while living a luxurious lifestyle.
In a much-watched 2013 BBC interview he outlined his position against voting, making him a figurehead for those who do not identify with mainstream politics.
Russell Brand
