Sir Elton John leads celebrities backing Labour on election day
Sir Elton John was among a constellation of stars who endorsed Labour on Saturday as Sir KeirStarmer rallied London volunteers on the final stretch of the 2024 campaign.
Ahead of a speech by the Labour leader to more than 350 supporters in the Royal Horticultural Halls near Victoria, the veteran singer appeared in a video message with his husband David Furnish.
Sir Elton declared: “Let’s get behind Labour to win on July 4.”
Others who spoke by video included actors Kit Harington and James Norton, singer Beverley Knight, Dragons Den businesswoman Deborah Meaden, Georgia Harrison of The Only Way is Essex and comedian Jason Manford.
At the Labour rally, Manford’s fellow comedian Bill Bailey gave a speech in person - joking he had shorn his hair to underscore that “it is time for change” - while television presenter June Sarpong was the compere.
Harington said he would be voting Labour because he feels they have “a practical plan” that is needed in the face of the climate crisis.
He said: “The climate is teetering and we really can’t afford 14 more years of the Tories in action.”
Stage, film and TV actor Norton, who has appeared in Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace and McMafia, said: “I support the Labour Party’s ambition when it comes to making the arts accessible to all children, particularly in regards to their ambitions around the school’s curriculum, reintegrating the arts into kids’ lives.”
Soul singer and Olivier Award-winning actress Knight added: “I support the Labour Party’s ambition to allow all children to pursue their passions in the creative space. Because I was one of those children.”
Joined by wife Victoria, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, deputy leader Angela Rayner and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Sir Keir warned against complacency despite Labour’s huge poll lead over the Conservatives.
“British people want change but the hope has almost been kicked out,” he said, calling the last week of campaigning “the hardest mile”.
The party leader said: “If you do vote Labour on Thursday, we can promise that the work of change will begin immediately.”
But he cautioned: “Imagine, if you dare, waking up on July 5th and the Tories are back in.
“It could happen, if we take our foot off the gas, if people think it’s all in the bag. Undecided voters, and there are millions of them. It could happen.”
