Surprise canvasser Hugh Grant joins Luciana Berger on the campaign trail
'If you ask me do I think the present Labour leadership has done anything like near enough to root it out, my answer is no,' Notting Hill actor says
Finchley and Golders Green candidate Luciana Berger was joined by a surprise canvasser on the campaign trail: the actor Hugh Grant.
The Notting Hill star appeared alongside Berger on Sunday to help with her campaign as part of a bid to encourage tactical voting against Brexit which he said was “the responsibility of all of us”.
Speaking to Berger’s supporters after canvassing, Grant admitted that he was not “a life-long Lib Dem supporter”.
“The real reason I’m here is, like so many of the population now, poll after poll has shown Britain has changed its mind,” he said.
Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle, Grant said he felt there was “an antisemitism element within the Labour Party”, adding: “If you ask me do I think the present Labour leadership has done anything like near enough to root it out, my answer is ‘no’.”
He praised Berger’s decision to campaign in Finchley and Golders Green, saying:” To give up the majority she had and come and fight a marginal takes a lot of guts.
“And also to face the flack of the Labour Party – these people should be cherished. They are rare in the political world.”
In a short Q&A after he was asked, “as a former prime minister”, how he would tackle the US president and “whether Carrie Symonds should be worried”, a reference to another role in the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually.
Grant replied coyly that it would be tricky with a “complete moron as president”.
44-year-old resident Grant Nairn said: “I didn’t realise (the seat) was that close because historically it’s been Labour, but I’m against leaving the EU.”
Nairn said Berger’s presence “made a big difference,” and that he would consider his position.
His daughter Lulu, 10, was excited for other reasons. “He (Grant) is so amazing, he’s in Paddington, he’s in Two Weeks, it’s like, oh my God, someone famous is outside my window – it was so awesome,” she said.
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