Eddie Izzard has officially launched her campaign to become the Labour MP for Sheffield Central.
The comedian announced she has joined the race for selection as the new candidate for the party after the current MP, Paul Blomfield, confirmed he was standing down.
In a statement, Izzard said: ‘Sheffield has a proud history, showing grit and determination in overcoming adversities and it was the wit and generosity of the people of this city that made me feel welcome when I first arrived in 1980 — the year the Leadmill opened.
‘I’m standing to be the next Labour MP for Sheffield Central to support the city that has supported me. To take the fight to the Tories and get Keir Starmer into Number 10.’
Izzard previously shared her hopes of becoming a Labour MP in August when she said she wanted to throw her ‘hat in the ring’ and stand for Sheffield in the next general election.
‘It’s an amazing seat to be able to stand for, if the people of Sheffield Central wish to have me there I will be there,’ she told BBC Radio Sheffield.
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‘I would love to be here as my whole creative career started from here, all the way to Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden and around 45 countries in the world.’
Izzard has strong ties to Sheffield, having first arrived in the city in the 1980s when she began studding accountancy and financial management with mathematics at the University of Sheffield.
Although she later quit the course in pursuit of a career in comedy, she was given an honorary doctorate by the university in 2006.
Last year, Izzard shared her thoughts that she believes ‘it is very tricky to be a politician’.
Speaking on Lorraine, she said: ‘There are people I will not agree with, there are people I will agree with. But there are certain people, whose characters are great, they have strong positive characters.
‘I’m going to go in, I’m going to see what I can do – I don’t know what I can do but I can do more than nothing and I believe in us, I believe in all human beings.’
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