British Comedian Says He is "Trying To Do an Al Franken," Confirms He Will Run For London Mayor in 2020

Credit: Nick J Webb / Foter / CC BY

The comedian Eddie Izzard has said that he will be running for Mayor of London in 2020. Although perhaps familiar to some Americans because of his hilarious takes on the Death Star canteen, colonization, the difference between American and British English, techno-fear, and many other topics, Izzard is also known in the U.K. for his support for the British Labour Party. Izzard is reportedly Labour leader Ed Miliband's preferred candidate for London mayor.

When asked recently about his political ambitions Izzad said that he is "trying to do an Al Franken" who he says "came from the world of comedy, went into being a Senator of Minnesota and has really just got his head down and got on with it, and he is going for re-election in two years' time."

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) used to work for Saturday Night Live. Almost 250 days after the 2008 elections he was sworn in as the junior senator from Minnesota after a narrow victory over then-Senator Norm Coleman. Franken was sworn in slightly over a decade after his novel Why Not Me? The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency was published. 

Of course, current London Mayor and fan of "rules-based anarchy" Boris Johnson provides enough humor without being a professional comedian, and would be quite an act to follow if he does decide to run again in 2016.

I may not agree with some of Izzard's opinions (he is a big fan of the European Union), but I am hopeful that if he were to succeed Johnson in 2020 he would at the very least ensure that Londoners continue to have a mayor that has a sense of humor, something many politicians on both side of the Atlantic seem to be lacking recently.

The "politics" page on Izzard's website states the following:

Eddie is passionate about politics in the US and especially Europe. In this section of the site, coming soon, he will be sharing his ideas and thoughts.

Watch this space. 

Comments

[wingnutx]

Finally there will be a referendum on cake or death.

[mr simple]

Let's hope they bring enough cake.

[R C Dean]

a sense of humor, something many politicians on both side of the Atlantic seem to be lacking recently.

Oh, I dunno. I find politicos pretty laughable.

Unless you mean laughing with them, not at them.

[Pro Libertate]

They should elect John Cleese to Parliament, then name him PM. Just for the laugh and abuse.

[Eduard van Haalen]

The Ministry of Silly Walks Enabling Act

An Act to Appoint a Commission do Do Something, Not Just Bloody Talk About It

The Cheese Supply Guarantee Act

The Create the World's Funniest Joke Act

[Mustakrakish]

An Act Concerning the Fraudulent Sales of Deceased Avians.

[Brett L]

London is already being run by Boris Johnson who is a brilliant but clownish fellow. What else do they want?

[Neoliberal Kochtopus]

Oh great now there's going to be one massive nerdgasm when he asks a visiting dignitary if they have a flag.

[MJGreen]

Will memes still be a thing in 2020? Because that would blanket the Internet.

[Eduard van Haalen]

For most political comedians, rather than waste time and money watching their act, you can just train a parrot to say "Republicans are Stupid" or "The bloody Conservative Party" over and over.

[John C. Randolph]

He's actually pretty funny, so much so that I still listen to him even when he pisses me off with his anti self-defense bullshit.

-jcr

[SweatingGin]

Indeed. I was amazed that he could do an encore in French, which I don't know, and have it still be funny.

[Marshall Gill]

For most political comedians, rather than waste time and money watching their act, you can just train a parrot to say "Republicans are Stupid" or "The bloody Conservative Party" over and over.

In his defense, when not talking about politics, Jon Stewart can be funny.

[Paul.]

Will he poke badgers with spoons or just arrange matches?

[Lord Peter Wimsey]

"I may not agree with some of Izzard's opinions..."

Really? Some of them? Hey let me try that: I may regard some of the War on Drugs as misguided...

Just curious, how far left would a statist douchbag have to be for you to write him off, even if he has that rumpled, cool, counter-culture look about him?

"...but I am hopeful that if he were to succeed Johnson in 2020 he would at the very least ensure that Londoners continue to have a mayor that has a sense of humor."

Yes, because Al Franken has been such a barrel of laughs.

[MJGreen]

Well Franken was never that funny, while Izzard is 1) very funny and 2) British.

[Paul.]

And this on wheels.

[Paul.]

Two choices: Al Franken as Senator who's funny, or Al Franken as Senator who's not funny.

Those are your only two choices, which do you choose? No no, you don't get "No Al Franken", that's not a choice, you get Al Franken #1, or Al Franken #2. That's it.

Church of England, Cake or Death?

[SweatingGin]

Feeney, how could you do the Franken comparison without hitting on the "Senator Franken in diaper" sketch?

Eddie Izzard in dresses and makeup on stage is a bit weird at first, but works fine once you get used to it.

RFC: Comedy should be produced with cocaine, and consumed with alcohol.

[sarcasmic]

But will he wear a dress?

[SweatingGin]

I sure hope so.

[Jesus H. Christ]

"Going to do an Al Franken"? Franken was never funny as a comedian, and he's an equally shitty politician. Set those sights high!

[Mike M.]

he would at the very least ensure that Londoners continue to have a mayor that has a sense of humor, something many politicians on both side of the Atlantic seem to be lacking recently.

What's going on in our country these days is about as funny as brain cancer.

[RickC]

All politicians are comedians. It's just that the joke is on us.

[Warren]

In the years running up to his Senate campaign, Franken was waxing very political and to the left of Castro. I was very concerned what he would do once in office. But I think he's doing less damage as a senator than he was as a gas bag.

[Sevo]

My guess is that he hasn't put together a staff to do the work for him.
Boxer, minus her staff, probably wouldn't get air-time or ink once a year.

[Killazontherun]

More from Bono:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101059054

Bono Defends Ireland's Low Taxes; Calls Out the Crank Left

Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese billionaire telecommunications entrepreneur, said that the "first thing" global technology corporations could do to benefit Africa is "to pay their taxes."

"Frankly, the whole taxation system around the world is really broken," Ibrahim said. "Business can globalize but out taxation is still country-based. And then countries compete. Ireland tells Google?"

This is where Bono interrupted. It was the first time anyone cut in on someone else's remarks all morning.

"We're very pleased to compete on that front," Bono said.

In the Guardian interview, Bono elaborated more on this.

"Tax competitiveness has taken our country out of poverty. People in the revenue accept that if you engage in that policy then some people are going to go out, and some people are coming in. It has been a successful policy. On the cranky left that is very annoying, I can see that. But tax competitiveness is why Ireland has stayed afloat. When the Germans tried to impose a different tax regime on the country in exchange for a bailout, the taoiseach said they would rather not have the bailout," he said.

Dude deserves to be made the Pope.

[Mustakrakish]

Wait, Bono is making sense now? Have all the Christians vanished yet?

[Killazontherun]

Wat. I'll check. Neighbor's light is on and someone is moving around. Yup, they are still here.

[mr simple]

2020? I thought we were bad to be speculating on the 2016 presidential elections.

[Mustakrakish]

Tater Salad 2016!

[PM]

Sen. Al Franken... was sworn in as the junior senator from Minnesota after a narrow victory over then-Senator Norm Coleman.

That's a pretty euphemistic way of describing how the same political operatives that put Christine Gregoire in as governor of Washington State after 3 recounts (and trunkfulls of exclusively-Democrat "lost" ballots in King County) managed to pull off exactly the same type of come-from-behind recount victory a few years later in the Franken race.

[newshutz]

"Going to do an Al Franken"

What came to my mind first was that he was announcing he was going to steal the election.

[Invisible Finger]

"Going to do an Al Franken"

I'd be happier if he'd do an R. Budd Dwyer.