Eddie Izzard loses bid to be Labour's candidate for Brighton Pavilion at next general election - the trans comedian's second failed attempt to stand as MP

Suzy Eddie Izzard has failed in her bid to become Labour's candidate for Brighton Pavilion at the next general election.

The stand-up comedian was beaten by music industry activist Tom Gray, marking the second time that the 61-year-old has been defeated in her attempts to stand as an MP.

Izzard, who identifies as a gender-fluid trans woman, also failed to be selected as Labour's candidate in Sheffield Central last year when local councillor Abtisam Mohamed was chosen instead.

In a social media video announcing her candidacy in August, Izzard had hailed Brighton as an 'open-minded' city that is 'welcoming to all' and pointed to her 'roots' in Sussex. 

It came after the Greens lost control of Brighton and Hove City Council as Labour retook power in the city at the local elections in May.

After being selected as Labour candidate today, Mr Gray wrote: 'Delighted and humbled to be selected to be the Labour candidate for Brighton Pavilion. Thanks so much to everyone who helped in the campaign and thanks to Eddie, Lucy and Birgit for showing such solidarity and integrity on the trail.'

The current Brighton Pavilion MP is long-serving Green politician Caroline Lucas, who is standing down at the next general election. 

Izzard has previously spoken about her gender-fluid identity and requests to be referred to with she/her pronouns.

Her previous bid to become a Labour candidate in Sheffield was marked by a furious 'transphobic' row.

Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury, used a fringe event at the party's conference in Liverpool last year to threaten to quit the party if Izzard was allowed onto an all-women shortlist.

She also said: 'Eddie Izzard is not a woman.'

Last month it also emerged that Duffield could be blocked from defending her Canterbury seat because she is the subject of an anti-Semitism probe by Labour.

The party began an investigation into her support for a trans activist's tweet about Izzard.

Ms Duffield 'liked' a sardonic post by Father Ted and The IT Crowd creator Graham Linehan, which he made in response to Izzard's comments that as a trans woman he probably would have been 'murdered by the Nazis'.

The Irish comic had replied: 'Ah yes, the Nazis, famously bigoted against straight white men with blonde (sic) hair.'

But supporters of Duffield suggested the probe was politically motivated because she was a rare transgender sceptic in the Labour Party. She is also a deputy chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on anti-Semitism.

While she is being investigated she cannot be added to the list of possible candidates in Canterbury at the next election.

Izzard is a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee and has previously flirted with a bid to become London mayor.

She spent part of her childhood in Bexhill-on-Sea, around 30 miles from Brighton on the South Coast.

Izzard introduced her new feminine name in March which she said she had wanted to use since she was 10 years old.

Eddie has used she/her pronouns since 2020, but 'doesn't mind' if people use him/her pronouns to address her.

She said: 'I'm Eddie. There's another name I'm going to add in as well, which is Suzy, which I wanted to be since I was 10. I'm going to be Suzy Eddie Izzard.'

Izzard shot to fame as a comedian who cross-dressed, but now identifies as a gender-fluid trans woman.

Just days ago, she posted on her campaign page on X: 'I've lived a life full of extraordinary chapters, but representing Brighton would be the most profound yet. 

'This city's vibrant soul has always inspired me. It would be my honour to be your voice in Parliament.'

She also said that she had been a 'voice for trans people' for 40 years but 'now I want to take that voice to Parliament'. 

Labour's chances of winning back the Brighton Pavilion seat they last held in 2010 - prior to Ms Lucas winning the constituency for the first time at that year's general election - will have been buoyed by their performance in recent local elections.

Labour won an overall majority on Brighton and Hove City Council in May to replace the Green administration.

Sian Berry, former Green co-leader, will be the party's candidate to succeed Ms Lucas in Brighton Pavilion at the next general election.