Elton John pledges support for Keir Starmer and Labour Party: “There is only one choice”
Elton John has pledged his support for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party ahead of the UK General Election tomorrow (July 4).
The final day of campaigning is currently underway before voters head to the polls, with Labour expected to clinch victory following 14 years of Tory rule. In May, Starmer said it was “time for change” away from the “chaos” of the Conservatives.
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“Only a changed Labour party will get Britain’s future back,” he explained at the time. “And make no mistake, the Labour Party has changed.”
Last Saturday (June 29), Sir Elton delivered a video message at a campaign event in London. He and his husband David Furnish backed Starmer and Labour, and talked about how the party would help young and emerging artists in the music industry.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the hopes of Britain’s next generation of creative talent downtrodden and destroyed by bureaucracy and red tape,” the legendary singer-songwriter began.
“The rich cultural exchange and education that informed my early years and paved the way for my career and success is drying up and in danger of dying out completely. And it’s not just the musicians, but the whole team that puts together a tour and the wider industry that relies on emerging talent to thrive in the future.”
Furnish – who is CEO of John’s management company, Rocket Entertainment – added: “It’s madness to treat a hugely successful sector with such disdain, particularly one that has been the envy of the world for decades and contributes billions to the British economy every year, and has given us unrivalled soft power across the globe.
“We spent years trying to engage with the UK government in a meaningful and productive manner on these issues.
“Now, Labour’s manifesto sets out sensible and practical proposals that promise to give every young person a creative education and help young and emerging musicians achieve the roots to success that have been cruelly and pointlessly snatched away from them.”
John continued: “That’s why we’re backing Keir and Labour to win this election. There is only one choice.
“Let’s help artists cut through the red tape that prevents them from thriving and contributing to this country’s future success. Let’s show the world what a creative, prosperous and forward-thinking nation Britain is. Let’s get behind Labour to win on July 4th.”
You can watch the video message in full above.
Other figures to have given speeches at the event or spoken via video message included Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, comedians Bill Bailey and Jason Manford, singer Beverley Knight, and businesswoman and Dragons’ Den investor Deborah Meaden.
In 2021, Elton John hit out at the UK government for being “philistines” in their response to Brexit touring issues. He later claimed that the then-PM Boris Johnson had ignored his requests to meet to discuss touring visas.
Ed Sheeran recently criticised the Conservative government for focusing on maths and banking rather than the arts. He also said that if Labour won the General Election, he believed support for state schools would improve.
“Hopefully, we’ll see a lot more action in this realm from a Labour government,” he explained. “I don’t think you can do any worse than what the Tories have been doing in, in that respect.
“So a new government will be really helpful and voting is the only way to achieve that.”
Meanwhile, AJ Tracey said “anything but the Tories is ideal” before The Last Dinner Party’s Abigail Morris called on the Glastonbury 2024 crowd to “make the change” with their votes.
“I think we all know who we are voting for, but it doesn’t end with the Tories being kicked out,” the latter continued.
Today (July 3), Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride conceded that “tomorrow is likely to see the largest Labour landslide majority – the largest majority that this country has ever seen” (via BBC News).
Last week, Elton John joined US President Joe Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center.
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Tom Skinner
NME
