Eddie Izzard hopes to become UK’s first trans MP after announcing political plans

Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Sky

Eddie Izzard has announced she wants to run for Parliament and become the UK’s first trans MP.

The 58-year-old shared her plans to run for the Labour party with the Sunday Mirror.

The news follows Eddie revealing she now goes by she/her pronouns during an appearance on Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year last year.

“I have been a member of the Labour Party since 1995”

“I wanted to stand in the last election but a seat wasn’t available – but I am here,” said Eddie. “I have been an activist since 2008, a member of the Labour Party since 1995.

“I wish to stand, I wish to be considered for a constituency, I would love to be elected and I would love to fight for Keir Starmer to be the next Prime Minister.

“I don’t trust Boris Johnson. He has lied upon lied and that is not a good example to our children, to say if you lie enough you can become Prime Minister.”

The star also opened up about her gender identity this week, saying she first reflected on the subject at the age of five.

“I have got boy genetics and girl genetics”

Speaking on the Life, Interrupted podcast, Eddie said: “I remember thinking, ‘That sounds pretty good to me, I’d be quite happy to be a girl, what’s going on there?’

“[…] Your biological body [can give] different signals as to how it is in the brain, but I do feel genderfluid.

“I have got boy genetics and girl genetics, so I call it boy mode and girl mode. These may not be great phrases but I can’t think of better words.

“Man mode and woman mode doesn’t sound good, so I’m going with those at the moment, but language can change over the years.”

She added: “I am gender fluid, I do seem to be a mixture, but I’m now based in girl mode as a trans woman. And now that pronouns have come out […] it feels like a promotion. I’m very happy with that.”

Eddie recently ran 32 marathons in 31 days, raising £302,000 for charity.

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