Endorsements in the 2015 United Kingdom general election

Various newspapers, organisations and individuals endorsed parties or individual candidates for the 2015 United Kingdom general election

2010 general election • Endorsements

2015 general election • Endorsements

2017 general election • Endorsements

2019 general election • Endorsements

Endorsements for parties

National daily newspapers

Newspaper	Main endorsement		Secondary endorsement(s)		Notes	Link
Daily Express		UK Independence Party		Conservative Party	Endorsed the UK Independence Party.
Daily Mail		Conservative Party		UK Independence Party	Supported a Conservative government. Encouraged anti-Labour tactical voting.
				Liberal Democrats
Daily Mirror (& other Reach plc owned papers)		Labour Party		Liberal Democrats	Endorsed a Labour government. Supported tactically voting LibDem against the Conservatives in marginal seats.
Daily Telegraph		Conservative Party		None
Financial Times		Conservative Party		Liberal Democrats	Endorsed a Conservative-led coalition.
The Guardian		Labour Party		Green Parties in the United Kingdom	Endorsed the Labour Party. Also supported Green and Liberal Democrat candidates where they were the main opposition to the Conservatives.
				Liberal Democrats
The Independent		Liberal Democrats		Conservative Party	Endorsed a second term of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
Metro		None
Morning Star		Labour Party		Communist Party of Britain	Endorsed the Labour Party in opposition to the Conservative Party.
News Line		Workers Revolutionary Party		Labour	Endorsed a vote for the seven Workers Revolutionary Party candidates, Labour elsewhere.
The Sun		Conservative Party		Liberal Democrats	Supported voting for the Liberal Democrats in 14 Labour/LibDem marginals.
The Times		Conservative Party		Liberal Democrats	Endorsed a second term of Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

National weekly newspapers

Newspaper	Main endorsement		Secondary endorsement(s)		Notes	Link
New Worker		Labour		None
Weekly Worker		Labour		Minor left-wing and far-left parties.	Endorsed 39 left-wing Labour candidates. The paper also supported Left Unity, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Communist Party of Britain, Respect Party, Socialist Labour Party, Socialist Party of Great Britain, Workers Revolutionary Party, Class War Party, Socialist Equality Party, Republican Socialists and Communist League.

National monthly newspapers

Newspaper	Main endorsement		Secondary endorsement(s)		Notes	Link
Peace News		Green		Labour	Endorsed Greens and left-wing Labour candidates. Supported candidates who commit to the '2050 decarbonisation goal and/or to not replacing Trident'.

National Sunday newspapers

Newspaper	Party endorsed		Notes	Link
Independent on Sunday		None	Newspaper stated in an editorial that it was not advising readers how to vote in 2015.
Mail on Sunday		Conservative Party
The Observer		Labour Party
Sunday Express		UK Independence Party
Sunday Mirror		Labour Party
Sunday People		Labour Party
Sunday Telegraph		Conservative Party
Sunday Times		Conservative Party

News magazines

Newspaper	Party endorsed		Notes	Link
Economist		Conservative Party	Endorsed a Conservative-led coalition.

Political magazines

Magazine	Party endorsed		Notes	Link
New Statesman		Labour Party
Spectator		Conservative Party

English newspapers

Newspaper	Party endorsed		Notes	Link
City A.M.		Conservative Party
Express & Star		Conservative Party
Liverpool Echo		Labour Party
London Evening Standard		Conservative Party	Endorsed the Conservative Party, and selective tactical voting for the Liberal Democrats.
Manchester Evening News		None
Southern Daily Echo		Conservative Party	Urged voters to support the Conservative Party with the exception of those where Liberal Democrats were in lead.
The Yorkshire Post		Conservative Party	Endorsed a continuation of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition.
		Liberal Democrats

Northern Irish newspapers

Newspaper	Party endorsed		Notes	Link
Belfast Telegraph		None	Encouraged everyone in Northern Ireland to exercise their voting rights.
Irish News		None
The News Letter		None	Backed unionist candidates.

Scottish newspapers

Newspaper	Party endorsed		Notes	Link
Daily Record		Labour Party
The Herald		None	Endorsed no political parties.
The National		SNP
Scotland on Sunday		None	Urged voters to 'vote for the party that comes closest to what you believe in'.
The Scotsman		None	Warned against tactical voting.
The Scottish Sun		SNP
Sunday Herald		SNP
Daily Mail Mail on Sunday		Conservative Party	Praise in one article for SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, but otherwise anti-SNP and tactical for Tories.

Animal Welfare Party

• Piers Morgan, journalist and television personality[1]

Conservative Party

• Michael Bloomberg, American businessman and politician[2]
• Sol Campbell, footballer[3]
• Tom Conti, actor
• Bob Dudley, American businessman[4]
• Ron Dennis, businessman[5]
• Charles Dunstone, businessman[5]
• George Iacobescu, businessman[6]
• Stuart Rose, businessman[6]
• Tidjane Thiam, French-Ivorian businessman and former politician[4]
• Paul S. Walsh, businessman[6]
• Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer and Conservative member of the House of Lords[7]
• Jo Malone, businesswoman
• Rose Leslie, Scottish actress.

Green Party of England and Wales

• George Monbiot, writer and environmentalist[8]
• Jack Monroe, writer and social activist[9]
• Grace Petrie. activist and singer-songwriter[10]
• Peter Tatchell, political campaigner and journalist[11]
• Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer

Labour Party

• Duncan Bannatyne, businessman and author[12]
• Trevor Beattie, advertising executive[13]
• Jo Brand, comedian, writer, actress and former nurse[14]
• Russell Brand (in England and Wales, except Brighton), comedian, activist[15]
• Michelle Collins, actress[16]
• Steve Coogan, actor and comedian[17]
• Peter Duncan, actor[13]
• Ben Elton, comedian[18]
• Martin Freeman, actor[19]
• Stephen Fry, comedian, writer, actor and presenter[20]
• Stephen Hawking, professor, theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author[21]
• Wayne Hemingway, fashion designer and businessman[13]
• Mathew Horne, actor[16]
• Jason Isaacs, actor[16]
• Eddie Izzard, comedian, actor and writer[22]
• Owen Jones, author, newspaper columnist and commentator[23]
• Kathy Lette, author[20]
• David Morrissey, actor, director, producer and screenwriter[20]
• Susie Orbach, writer and social critic[13]
• Paul O'Grady, broadcaster[16]
• Ronnie O'Sullivan, professional snooker player[24]
• Grayson Perry, artist[20]
• Will Self, author, journalist, broadcaster[25]
• Delia Smith, cook, author and television presenter[26]
• Patrick Stewart, actor[20]
• Harry Styles, singer of One Direction[27]
• David Tennant, actor[19]
• Polly Toynbee, journalist, author[28]
• Dale Vince, entrepreneur[13]
• Robert Webb, comedian[29]

Liberal Democrats

• John Cleese, actor and comedian[30]

Scottish National Party

• Dennis Canavan, former Scottish Labour Party and independent politician[31]
• Martin Compston, former footballer and actor[32]
• Brian Cox, actor[33]
• Ian McElhinney, actor[34]
• Tommy Sheridan, former Scottish Socialist Party and Solidarity member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow. Co-leader of Solidarity[35]
• Elaine C. Smith, actress and comedian[33]

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

• Jawad Ahmad, singer, musician and activist[36]

UK Independence Party

• Richard Desmond, publisher, adult industry businessman[37]
• Nick Griffin, former leader of the British National Party, former MEP[38]
• Tommy Robinson, former leader and founder of the English Defence League, founder of the European Defence League, former Vice-Chairman of British Freedom Party[39]
• Paul Sykes, businessman, philanthropist[40]

Conservative Party

• Young Republicans International Committee, youth wing of US Republican Party[41]

Labour Party

• Australian Labor Party, abroad[42]
• Fire Brigades Union, trade union
• Socialist Environment and Resources Association, environmental activist group[43]
• Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, trade union[44]
• UNISON, trade union[45]
• USDAW, trade union[46]

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

• National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, trade union[47][48]

UKIP

• Britain First, far-right 'street-defence' organisation[49]

Parties

Some parties which only contest elections in certain parts of the United Kingdom have endorsed political parties in areas they don't contest

• The Labour Party (Great Britain) endorsed the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland.
• Plaid Cymru (Wales) endorsed the Green Party in England[50] and the Scottish National Party in Scotland.
• The SNP (Scotland) endorsed the Green Party in England, and Plaid Cymru in Wales.
• The DUP and UUP (Northern Ireland) formed a unionist pact in four seats, with DUP candidates standing in Belfast East and Belfast North, and UUP candidates standing in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and Newry and Armagh.[51]
• The 3 Green Parties in the United Kingdom, the Green Party of England and Wales, the Scottish Green Party and the Green Party in Northern Ireland, endorsed each other in their respective areas.

Endorsements for individual candidates

Danny Alexander, Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

• Hugh Grant, actor[52]

Ed Balls, Labour Party candidate for Morley and Outwood

• PinkNews[53]

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat candidate for Sheffield Hallam

• The Times[54]

Oliver Coppard, Labour Party candidate for Sheffield Hallam

• Owen Jones, Guardian journalist.[55]
• Ronnie O'Sullivan, professional snooker player[56]

Andrew Dismore, Labour Party candidate for Hendon

• PinkNews[53]

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green

• PinkNews[53]

Mike Freer, Conservative Party candidate for Finchley and Golders Green

• PinkNews[53]

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Ives

• Brian May, Guitarist of Queen[57]

Naomi Long, Alliance Party candidate for Belfast East

• PinkNews[53]

Caroline Lucas, Green candidate for Brighton Pavilion

• Julia Chanteray, President of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce[58]
• Tom Burke, environmentalist, former Executive Director of Friends of the Earth[59]
• Tony Juniper, activist, writer, environmentalist[59]
• Charles Secrett, author, environmentalist broadcaster[59]
• Russell Brand, comedian, activist[60]
• David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster
• Joanna Lumley, actress and author
• Thom Yorke, musician and songwriter; member of Radiohead
• Brian May, musician, astrophysicist and animal welfare campaigner; member of Queen
• Billy Bragg, singer-songwriter
• Rory Bremner, impressionist and satirist
• Stephen Frears, film director
• Katharine Hamnett, fashion designer
• Jeremy Irons, actor
• Diana Quick, actress
• Bianca Jagger, human rights activist
• Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs presenter
• Alistair McGowan, actor and impressionist
• Cornelia Parker, sculptor and installation artist
• Tracy Worcester, former actress and animal welfare campaigner
• Mark Constantine, founder of Lush cosmetics
• Joseph Corré, co-founder, Agent Provocateur
• John Ashton, former special representative for climate change at the Foreign Office
• Prof. Tim Jackson, sustainable development, University of Surrey
• Jane Goodall, primatologist and UN messenger of peace
• Satish Kumar, former monk and peace activist
• Jeremy Leggett, green energy entrepreneur
• Jonathon Porritt, environmentalist and broadcaster
• Chris Rapley, former director of the Science Museum and the British Antarctic Survey
• Gordon Roddick, founder of 38 Degrees and co-founder, The Big Issue and The Body Shop
• Charles Secrett, former head of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder
• Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project
• George Monbiot, journalist and author
• Michael Morpurgo, children's author, poet, playwright
• Mark Steel, writer and comedian
• Mark Thomas, comedian and journalist[61]
• PinkNews[53]

Maajid Nawaz, Liberal Democrat candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn

• David Aaronovitch, journalist[62]
• Richard Dawkins, scientist and writer[63]

Derek Wall, Green candidate for Windsor

• Democratic Union Party, Syrian Kurdish political party[64]

Tom Watson, Labour candidate for West Bromwich East

• Hugh Grant, actor[65]

Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru candidate for Arfon

• Caroline Lucas, Green candidate for Brighton Pavilion[66]

See also

• Newspaper endorsements in the United Kingdom general election, 2010
• United Kingdom general election, 2010 (Endorsements)
• Endorsements in the United Kingdom general election, 2017
• Endorsements in the 2019 United Kingdom general election

References

1. Jenn Selby (6 May 2015). "Piers Morgan declares his political endorsement ahead of the general election". The Independent. London.
2. Michael Bloomberg (29 April 2015). "Let David Cameron Finish the Job". Bloomberg.
3. Guardian sport (10 October 2014). "Sol Campbell ready 'to have a conversation' with Conservative Party". The Guardian.
4. Patrick Wintour (1 April 2015). "Labour dismisses pro-Tory letter from business leaders as party political stunt". The Guardian.
5. Ben Quinn (1 April 2015). "More than 100 business leaders sign letter backing Tories". The Guardian.
6. Peter Dominiczak (1 April 2015). "General Election 2015: Labour threatens Britain's recovery, say 100 business chiefs". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
7. Helen Nianias (26 April 2015). "Andrew Lloyd Webber: Phantom of the Opera writer mocked after issuing a warning about Ed Miliband and Nicola Sturgeon". The Independent. London.
8. George Monbiot (28 January 2015). "Follow your convictions – this could be the end of the politics of fear". The Guardian.
9. Jack Monroe (19 March 2015). "I didn't leave the Labour party – it left me". The Guardian.
10. Grace Petrie (17 March 2015). "Elections, Tours, and Nailing your Colours to the Mast". Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
11. Peter Tatchell. "Greens have best policies for LGBTs & everyone". Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
12. Jon Stone (8 April 2015). "Duncan Bannatyne says he'll vote Labour because of Ed Miliband's 'courage' in taking on non-dom tax status". The Independent. London.
13. Patrick Wintour (1 April 2015). "Labour offers counterpunch to Daily Telegraph business letter". The Guardian.
14. "Watch: Comedian Jo Brand endorses Labour in a party election broadcast". New Statesman. 16 April 2015.
15. "Emergency: VOTE To Start Revolution Russell Brand The Trews (E312)". Russell Brand YouTube Channel. 4 May 2015.
16. Vincent Moss (2 May 2015). "General Election 2015: Paul O'Grady and Ronnie O'Sullivan among celebs backing Ed Miliband". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
17. Rowena Mason (3 May 2015). "Steve Coogan urges a vote for Labour in 'knife-edge' election". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
18. "Celebrity endorsement for Labour". The Belfast Telegraph. 4 April 2015.
19. Rowena Mason (31 March 2015). "Hobbit star Martin Freeman appears in Labour election broadcast". The Guardian.
20. Jim Pickard (10 July 2014). "Celebrities line up to back Labour party fundraiser". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015.
21. "Professor Stephen Hawking gives his backing to Labour". Labour List. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
22. David Holmes (17 April 2015). "Comedian Eddie Izzard in Chester as part of Labour election campaign – Chester Chronicle". Chester Chronicle.
23. Owen Jones (22 April 2015). "A cruel society is being built. Voting Labour begins the fightback". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
24. "Former Snooker World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan Backs Labour". Yahoo! News. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
25. Will Self (2 May 2015). "Will Self: Oscar Wilde, champagne socialism and why I'm voting Labour". The Guardian.
26. Jason Beattie (3 May 2015). "Delia Smith: I'm backing Labour to save the NHS because it can't be treated like a supermarket". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
27. Ashleigh Rainbird (22 February 2013). ""I lean to the left": Harry Styles reveals his political direction is Labour". The Mirror.
28. Polly Toynbee (28 April 2015). "Warning: these Tories won't jump. They must be pushed". The Guardian.
29. Robert Webb (5 May 2015). "Robert Webb: I wouldn't put Ed Miliband on a T-shirt, but I will vote for him". New Statesman.
30. "Lib Dems entice donors with chance to win dinner with Bath comedian John Cleese". Bath Chronicle. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015.
31. Andrew Whitaker (19 April 2015). "Former Labour MP calls for SNP vote across Scotland". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
32. "Scots star Compston says 'it's time for change' in new SNP political broadcast". Herald Scotland. 29 March 2015.
33. Andrew Learmonth (5 May 2015). "Actor Brian Cox puts his weight behind SNP after years of backing Labour". The National. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
34. Kieran Andrews (5 May 2015). "Game of Thrones star backs SNP in Gordon Brown's former seat". The Courier. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015.
35. "Sheridan's rallying call to Yes supporters: vote SNP next year and aim for 2020 indyref". Herald Scotland. 22 September 2014.
36. Sarah Sachs-Eldridge (29 April 2015). "Pop star and activist Jawad Ahmad backs TUSC". The Socialist.
37. Jon Stone (16 April 2015). "Daily Express owner Richard Desmond donates £1.3m to Ukip". The Independent. London.
38. Jon Stone (30 November 2014). "Nick Griffin voting UKIP: Former BNP leader backs Nigel Farage". The Independent. London.
39. Ryan Barrell (17 December 2014). "Tommy Robinson, Former EDL Leader, Comes Out in Support of Ukip". The Huffington Post UK.
40. Lamiat Sabin (26 October 2014). "Millionaire donor Paul Sykes gives Ukip £1.5m in bid to win 100 seats in parliament". The Independent. London.
41. Rowena Mason (21 April 2015). "Young Republicans drafted in from US to boost Conservative election bid". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
42. "Vote Labour in the UK General election Register by the 20th". ALP Abroad. 18 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015.
43. "Labour launches Green Plan". SERA. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
44. "welcomes Labour's manifesto pledges on Gangmasters and Blacklisting". UCATT. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
45. "Labour's manifesto gives voters a real choice, says UNISON". Unison. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015.
46. "Arena Election Special 2015". Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.
47. "RMT conference unanimously votes to continue support for TUSC". TUSC. 27 June 2014.
48. "Support TUSC in the Local and General Elections". RMT London. 16 April 2015.
49. James Cusick (22 March 2015). "Vote Ukip, says far-right group Britain First – UK Politics – UK". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
50. David Williamson (28 January 2015). "Plaid Cymru urges supporters living in England to vote Green". Wales Online.
51. Rebecca Black (18 March 2015). "DUP and UUP seal election pact for East Belfast, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, North Belfast Newry and Armagh". The Belfast Telegraph.
52. "Hugh Grant backing Danny Alexander in election". The Scotsman. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
53. "Editorial: Reward the heroes and punish the villains of LGBT rights in Parliament". Pink News. 6 May 2015.
54. "Vote Clegg". The Times. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
55. Anna Gillies (28 April 2015). "Guardian Columnist Owen Jones joins Coppard Campaign". Forge Press. Sheffield: University of Sheffield.
56. "Snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan endorses Sheffield Hallam candidate Oliver Coppard". Labour List. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
57. "Queen legend Brian May to visit Penzance to support Lib Dem candidate Andrew George". The Cornishman. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
58. "Former Labour councillors back Caroline for Pavilion – Caroline Lucas". Brighton and Hove Green Party. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015.
59. "Key Environment Leaders endorse Caroline Lucas". Green Party. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
60. Peter Walker (1 May 2015). "Russell Brand endorses Green MP Caroline Lucas". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
61. Jessica Elgot (24 April 2015). "Celebrities sign statement of support for Caroline Lucas – but not the Greens". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
62. David Aaronovitch (7 May 2015). "Only the Lib Dems can bring us to our senses". The Times. London.
63. "Endorse Maajid Nawaz". Maajid Nawaz for Hampstead and Kilburn. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015.
64. "Press Release: Windsor General Election candidate endorsed by Syrian Political Party". Peace in Kurdistan. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
65. "Election Live – 4 May – BBC News". BBC News.
66. David Williamson (20 April 2015). "Green icon Caroline Lucas urges Welsh supporters to support Plaid Cymru in seats where her party has no candidate". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 May 2015.