Politics

Martin Lewis tops list of celebrities Brits would like to see as prime minister

Financial guru Martin Lewis would be the best Prime Minister for the United Kingdom, according to research.

The money saving expert was closely followed by national treasure David Attenborough, Stephen Fry and Alison Hammond in a poll of 2,000 adults which found 44 per cent would happily vote for a celebrity to become PM.

And they believe the leader of the country should not only be trustworthy and honest, but also down to earth with a sense of humour.

While a third think they should be compassionate – as well as unbiased (23 per cent) and hardworking (36 per cent).

Make Me Prime Minister

The research was commissioned by Channel 4 ahead of the Tuesday, September 27th launch of new show ‘Make Me Prime Minister’, in which contestants will battle it out in a series of political challenges.

It also emerged 29 per cent think they would make a good local councillor and the same percentage think they would excel in the top job.

Nearly one in four (24 per cent) have considered a career in politics, with a quarter of those interested in being the party leader.

Economists, political assistants and campaign managers were other political roles Brits have considered.

The research also found 38 per cent have got into an argument with someone with an opposing political view, but 65 per cent believe it’s important to get their views heard.

While 29 per cent have campaigned for issues that matter to them, the same percentage have written to their MP and 32 per cent have attended a demonstration.

Racism, climate change, sexual harassment and domestic abuse were among the most common causes to be spoken up about.

So, it’s no surprise 23 per cent would run for PM now if they had the chance.

Next election

The study found half of those polled, via OnePoll, will certainly be voting in the next general election and the same number voted in the previous one.

But just 35 per cent have only ever voted for the same political party.

Parents, partners and friends are the most likely to influence a Brit’s vote, but 16 per cent don’t have any external influence.

The research comes after Channel 4 toured the country with a replica of the famous No. 10 Downing Street door and lectern to find out what Brits would do if they were PM.

Alastair Campbell, who is featured in Make Me Prime Minister, said: ‘‘The contestants in the show are not the only ones who think politics is in a mess and that they could do the job better than Boris Johnson or Liz Truss.

“But I think they learned that the job is a lot harder than it looks.

“Some of them, without doubt, have real political talent and I hope they go into politics.

“They will also be pleased by the poll findings that people want our PM to have integrity and be trustworthy and honest. So should we all”.

Top 30 celebrities Brits would like to see as prime minister

  1. Martin Lewis
  2. David Attenborough
  3. Stephen Fry
  4. Alison Hammond
  5. Richard Osman
  6. Dame Judi Dench
  7. Marcus Rashford
  8. Ricky Gervais
  9. Helen Mirren
  10. Eddie Izzard
  11. Jo Brand
  12. Emma Watson
  13. Miriam Margolyes
  14. Gareth Southgate
  15. Lenny Henry
  16. Paul O’Grady
  17. Gary Neville
  18. Mick Lynch
  19. Steven Bartlett
  20. Hugh Grant
  21. Mel & Sue
  22. Emily Blunt
  23. Daisy May Cooper
  24. Russell Brand
  25. Adele
  26. Jameela Jamill
  27. Bimini Bon Boulash
  28. Maya Jama
  29. Stormzy
  30. Munya Chawawa

Related: Tories fear ‘electoral doom’ over dubious Truss/Fullbrook deal

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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