The battle for Doncaster North could be set for a jaw-dropping twist as TV legend Jeremy Clarkson hints at a sensational bid to unseat Labour bigwig Ed Miliband at the next general election.
The showdown would pit the petrolhead presenter against the green-loving politician in a clash of titans that would leave voters facing a stark choice between two wildly different candidates.
Hometown hero Clarkson teases run for office
Clarkson, born and raised in Doncaster, set tongues wagging with an X post cheekily asking locals if they were happy with their current MP and suggesting someone from their “neck of the woods” could give him the boot.
The former Top Gear star, now famous for his Diddly Squat farm antics on Amazon Prime, began his journalism career just down the road at the Rotherham Advertiser.
Voters rev up for Clarkson candidacy
On the streets of his hometown, many voters are already gunning for Clarkson to make the leap into politics.
Francesca Hansen, 58, who runs the Tipsy Tea Room in Clarkson’s birthplace of Sprotbrough, believes the presenter “just gets the people around here” in a way that Miliband doesn’t. She hopes he would look after “the villages and people and the businesses” if elected.
Miliband’s net zero push sparks local skepticism
Like many locals, Hansen views Miliband’s net zero policies with a degree of skepticism, fearing they won’t make anything cheaper for struggling businesses hammered by soaring energy prices.
Natalie Hirst, 36, from the Elite Collective beauty salon, says there’s “more negativity against him [Miliband] than positivity” in the area and feels Clarkson is “more in tune with real life.”
Red Wall seat faces uncertain future
Doncaster North, a long-time Labour stronghold and so-called Red Wall seat, has seen its mining past shape local identities for generations. But with the last local colliery closing just a decade ago and the town centre now run-down, many residents feel a sense of loss and bitterness.
Amid Labour’s plummeting popularity nationally, it’s uncertain whether Miliband can cling on next time around. Opinions of him range from extreme dislike to steadfast loyalty, with some conceding he’s personable and responsive as a local MP despite opposing his politics.
Clarkson’s political leanings a mixed bag
The big question is who Clarkson would stand for if he does dive into politics. The outspoken star has previously said he often votes Conservative and is reported to be pals with former Tory PM David Cameron.
But he’s also voiced support for Remain in the 2016 referendum (Doncaster voted Leave by 69%) and struggled to get on with Brexiteers. His disdain for net zero seems clear, but he’s also insisted his past disregard for global warming was “part of the caricature” and “a joke.”
Miliband’s majority under threat
To snatch the seat, Clarkson would need to overturn Miliband’s 9,000+ majority – a hefty hurdle, but perhaps not insurmountable given today’s volatile political climate. Polling suggests Miliband could be among several high-profile casualties if an election were held now.
With many lifelong Labour voters now saying “I’ve voted Labour all my life, but…”, a historic swing could be on the cards in 2029. Throwing an independent or Tory Clarkson into the mix would muddy the waters further, potentially splitting the right-wing vote.
Polling expert James Kanagasooriam says Clarkson’s chances would hinge on “what party he stood for, what the rejected right-wing party would do, and his ability to run a sustained campaign,” but believes the presenter “would, on balance, stand a good chance.”