Celebrities using their fame for political purposes.

[HappydaysArehere]

Is it just me or do you hate hearing from well loved celebrities just before elections. Ant and Dec are entitled to their view of the political scene and to express it in private as much as they wish. However, my appreciation of this talented pair has taken a knock. AIBU to feel that celebrities should not be used in an endeavour to manipulate the electorate?

Red Wedge was more than Billy Bragg - it was (erm) Paul Weller, and the Blow Monkeys, and loads of pop stars. There was ... er watchmecallit - and wassisface - and The ... oh what were they called ?

I recall a sunny afternoon in the local library reading Melody Maker, and a round table interview with Paul Weller, Bragg, and Stewart Copeland (who was/is much more of the right wing). Basically SC ridiculed the notion that getting kids into politics was going to change anything - especially by pumping left wing propaganda down their throats.

One suspects, in hindsight, he had a point .

It's not hard to imagine that while some of us were bopping away to red Wedge concerts, Cameron, Johnson, and Osborne were attending Bullingdon club dinners .

Neil kinnock disbanded the LPYS due to fears about Millitant

We where Socialist Organiser in our branch though!

I'm with you, OP. Principally because most celebrities are f*wits with half baked opinions and I'm terrified of them infecting voters with their bollix ideas.

I once read a short interview with one Ashley Banjo (in 'Closer', or a similar publication, not the FT, in case you were wondering). He was in the dance group who won 'Britain's Got Talent' a few years ago, audaciously triumphing over Susan Boyle. He was asked for his political views, which were as follows:

• we should all just, you know, love each other.

• tax should be voluntary.

I realised that Ashley's pithy words encapsulate the political views of most celebrities, especially Bono. He certainly thinks that tax is voluntary, as do Take That.

ghostyslovesheep

Neil kinnock disbanded the LPYS due to fears about Millitant

(eventually)

Our 6th form library had Militant on the shelves. They didn't subscribe - one of the Young Socialists would sneak it in . I took great delight in ensuring it was always prominently next to the Telegraph. When I was challenged by the aforementioned Young Socialist, I apologised for such a puerile gesture, and we agreed it should respect the rules of the library (proving that the more left wing you are, the less sensitive you are to irony) i.e alphabetically. So it went next to the Daily Mail .

Lol ! There is somebody in my local morrisons who always hides the guardian under the sun or mail! It's you isn't it!

No way ghostly! The good old days (sigh)

It irks me.

Principally because all the, er, less academic people at school did Drama. So some years later you get some 2 A Level person sitting on a chat show sofa and pontificating about politics/the environment/etc.

And they're all bloody hypocrites. Bono, Sting (he of the seven houses whilst saving the planet) and the whole of the North London eejits who feel equal to making political comments whilst beating a path between Primrose Hill, the BBC and the National Theatre.

You think people who studied drama or who are making careers on stage/films/music are too thick to be political?

Maidofstars, are you a celebrity in disguise who is offended by the suggestion that many celebrities are a bit thick with poorly-developed and ill thought out political views?

Which one? Are you Colleen Nolan?

(Not everybody in showbiz is like that, but there's a strong evidence base to suggest that quite a few are)

There are a lot of stupid, narrow-minded people in showbusiness. There are a lot of highly intelligent, well-educated people too.

I think it's important to normalise politics and I hope that hearing Ant and Dec speak about it might encourage a few more people to vote.

I just wish that everyone would stick to the policies and avoid criticising the people. I am no Ed Miliband fan but I find the personal attacks really mean and uncomfortable to read.

"Didn't a survey prove once Labour supporters have more money, over time they turn conservative in the political thinking."

I thought this happened in the 1980's once everyone had bought their council house.

I think it's great to hear people like Ant and Dec talking about politics, making it clear that voting matters. They're also from a background that doesn't get much voice in national politics - they're multimillionaires now, but they are from very ordinary backgrounds in north east England.

Financeprincess are you a celebrity in disguise who is offended by the suggestion that many celebrities are a bit thick with poorly-developed and ill thought out political views?

Was that a deliberate segue from "drama student/actor type" to "celebrity"? The two aren't the same category.

Are there thick "drama luvvies"? Yes.
Are there clever "drama luvvies"? Yes.
Are there thick "other celebrities"? Yes.
Are there clever "other celebrities"? Yes.

I'm not convinced that you can tell which celebrities are clever and which are thick using only the fact they are a celebrity. Of course, if they open their mouths and say that taxes should be optional, you can see that perhaps they aren't prime targets for Question Time. But I don't see any problem with what Ant and/or Dec have said here (I think it probably echoes what an awful lot of Labour voters think) and I don't think that just because they once did a shit song (songs?) and host some rather low-brow Saturday TV, that they are somehow unable to offer a reasonable political opinion.

I'm not a celebrity, drama or otherwise. I'm an academic scientist. I assume that means I am clever enough to vote.

I think you do not give up your right to an opinion just because you are a celebrity but you can be critiqued for it just like Mylene Klass was about the mansion tax. Celebrities aren't the queen it's not 'inappropriate' for them to talk about politics and I really don't think it matters to most people what they say and if it does then thats people's right too to base their vote on whatever they feel like. saying some people are too stupid to vote or care about politics is just snobby

Pontificating tax dodging celebs do make my blood boil though

fucking THIS ^

So Ashley showed how thick he was, Glenda Jackson has been working as an MP for years, she's a highly respected member and a very fine actress.

sorry. I'm old, that should read actor.

It doesn't matter whether you are thick or clever. Ant and Dec's opinion is no more or less valid than say Stephen Hawking's, for arguments sake. Ultimately when we go to the ballot box in this country, the vote of a TOWIE cast member carries the same weight as that of an Oxbridge don, and that is exactly how it should be in a democracy.

Therefore, the opinion of these people is equally valid, because when you come to vote, it doesn't matter if your decision was made based on hours of research into policy or whether you think Nigel Farage would be a laugh in the pub, your vote counts.

It would be great if everyone made a well informed, educated decision, but I think that it is so important that people just go out and vote at all, even if it's because Ant and Dec inspired them to. I think the level of engagement in the Scottish Referendum was amazing, I would love to see that here. We all have a right to vote, therefore we all have a right to express our political opinion, whatever that may be based on.

If I was famous the only political opinion you would hear from me is telling everyone to vote and get involved in the process (ie find out who their MP is, what their attendance and voting record is plus find out who else is standing in their area).

Of course A&D have personal opinions which is fine but I disagree with them being overly vocal in support of a political party. I think it is better to opine on certain policies rather than a blanket endorsement of a political party. As an example, James Blunt address an MP who referenced him. His opinion was therefore justified IMO. Myleen Klass, can't stand her but I respect that she has been vocal about certain policies that many people disagree with. She hasn't shown a party affiliation but its pretty obvious as to what it is!

What I find interesting is that you often hear the political party affiliations of celebrities but for other public figures, such as businessmen, you hear them address certain issues or policies.

I don't know what Ant and Dec have said. Seems to me as soon as celebs get a bit of money they tend to want to vote Tory. Take Adele I remember her saying her family have always voted Labour but she now resents paying taxes as she doesn't use public transport etc. This sort of attitude makes me How do they think they got where they are today. Same with the likes of Take that. I t always puts me off celebs when I know they are Tories and they dislike paying their taxes. Mylene Klass Griff reese Jones
Jimmy Carr

The existence of Russell Brand is argument enough that celebs should stay out of politics.

I think you'll find that Labour is no saint when it comes to tax avoidance keratin.

The Labour party itself avoided corporation tax entirely in 2012. Despite being in surplus they reduced their corporation tax from £561,000 to zero by offsetting expenses and tax losses from 2011. Both the Conservative party and the Lib Dems paid corporation tax that year.

I think it is incredibly patronising to assume that anybody would be influenced in their voting intentions by the views of celebrities.