The UK’s upcoming general election has thrown up some surprising candidates, with musician Dave Rowntree of Blur officially running to become an MP for the Labour Party. Despite being drumming, as well as politics, politics seems to be his true passion given his early association with the party back in 2007 when he moved to London and joined up. Rowntree is set to run for the Conservative-held seat of Mid Sussex, currently held by Mims Davies. In response to questions from fans on social media, Rowntree stated that he is “absolutely thrilled,” before adding that “now the work begins,” hinting at the huge amount of canvassing required in the lead up to a general election.
The politician-to-be has been involved in politics previously, with a Guardian article from 2007 noting how his political views differed from other members of the band. Rowntree has previously been a Labour candidate for the Cities of London and Westminster constituency and was, until recently, a Councillor for Norfolk County Council. Alongside this commitment to public life, he has also apparently had a number of other careers over time including criminal lawyer, animator, and even flying instructor.
Rowntree’s entrance into the world of politics follows in the footsteps of other musicians who have publicly backed political parties in years gone by, including Oasis and Blur, famously throwing their weight behind Tony Blair’s New Labour movement in the 1990s. Despite this, Albarn reportedly turned down the opportunity to become more involved in politics. In interviews, Albarn admitted that his place was in music, despite his very strong views.
Politics is a natural extension of expression that creative types like Rowntree have traditionally gravitated towards. However, the potential complexities of being a public figure, and the new campaign dynamic generated by social media, means that it’s a challenging route for anyone to tread – never more so than in today’s political climate. Rowntree clearly believes that he has the passion to help make a difference in his local constituency, setting a powerful example for those who think that music and activism don’t mix
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