EDDIE IZZARD - IZZARD LAUNCHES GET OUT TO VOTE CAMPAIGN

IZZARD LAUNCHES GET OUT TO VOTE CAMPAIGN

Comedian Eddie Izzard has visited Manchester in an effort to galvanise voters as fears spread of wins for the BNP in the forthcoming European parliamentary elections.

Analysts are concerned that low turnouts during local and European elections could allow well-organised far-right groups to win important seats under the radar.

"If young people get active and learn about the subject they want to talk about and get involved in politics and that's fantastic," Izzard said.

"At these elections it's very important because if people don't vote then the BNP will get in.

"You have to get people when they're young and the more young people that get involved the better, just like Barack Obama's campaign. A lot of [the] youth were involved in that so that was very exciting."

While in Manchester, Izzard met with culture secretary Andy Burnham and Labour candidate Lucy Powell, who he recently gave £5,400 to help fight the Withington seat – currently held by Liberal Democrat John Leech.

He then performed a gig to "pay for it all".