‘Russell Brand has endorsed Labour – and the Tories should be worried’ ran the headline over a Guardian column by Owen Jones in May 2015, as the renowned soothsayer predicted the comedian’s endorsement of Ed Miliband would be the factor which put him in Downing Street. “He has won the ear of a section of the population that practically no other public figure has,” intoned Jones sagely.
11 years on and Brand’s star has waned somewhat, yet his political ambitions have only grown – and now he is running to become mayor of London in 2028. The former stand-up announced his plan to stand on the YouTube channel of right wing US commentator Tucker Carlson, saying he was campaigning as of “now”. The move comes despite him facing trial for three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault in London in October, as well as a charge of sexual assault in a civil case in New York.
Acknowledging that he would shortly be returning to the UK “possibly to serve a jail sentence”, Brand told Carlson that “amidst all this madness, with a forthcoming trial and a book out that I’m very pleased with, I’m going to run for mayor of London in 2028”.
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Brand previously considered running for mayor in 2014 but now thinks that the threat he posed to the established parties posed problems. “From that moment, I was on the radar of certain forces that probably monitor online threats and vocal critics of establishment power,” said the former Big Brother’s Big Mouth presenter.
The former funnyman has yet to set out his policies, although one is to allow the people of Epping, which has seen scenes of unrest around hotels hosting asylum seekers, to hold a binding referendum on immigration. “If the people of Epping don’t want to have migrants in their community, then let them vote on it,” he said, although his policy may be thwarted by the fact that Epping is not in London and the mayor has no power over it.
The star of the little-watched 2011 Arthur remake then went on to Piers Morgan’s YouTube show to promote his bid, only to be widely ridiculed online after spending more than 90 seconds attempting and failing to find a Bible passage he read in court.
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Brand, who became a Christian last year, had his Bible confiscated by the dock officer after he began reading it in Southwark Crown Court. Asked by Morgan what the relevant passage was, the podcaster said “It was this from Isiah” before looking through his Bible for more than a minute and a half of excruciating silence.
“I can’t actually find the verse that I had that day but this is good enough,” he eventually said. “This is from Isaiah 12.”
Brand, meanwhile, is not the only comedian thought to be seeking the role. James Cleverly, the laddish shadow housing secretary who has all but vanished since joining Kemi Badenoch’s top team, is said to be running for the Conservative nomination.
