What James Corden's reign as London mayor will look like
It is hard to know for certain what put James Corden onto the idea of seeking elected office. Perhaps he craves a new challenge now that Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa have ridden off into the sunset. Or maybe, having returned to the UK after nearly a decade in the US, he realises how many lessons this history boy has to teach his motherland.
We cannot discount the possibility that Corden has been inspired by the example of Volodymyr Zelensky, who has shown that there is a clear route from comedian to heroic wartime leader. All Corden needs is an election victory or two and an invasion by a large, hostile foreign power and he, too, could be on track to earn the respect of Ben Stiller.
Attending the TV Baftas last weekend, Hillingdon's finest Peter Rabbit met the three hosts of the Electoral Dysfunction podcast: Sky News's political editor Beth Rigby, former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson and the former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman. According to one onlooker, Corden told the women he was a 'regular listener' and enjoyed the 'cut and thrust of politics'. In the same conversation, the onlooker told the The Mail on Sunday: 'It was suggested that he should step into the political arena and stand in the future. There was talk that he should run for Mayor of London.' Sadiq Khan is expected to step down before the next Mayoral election, scheduled for 2028, so Labour will need a new candidate.
Corden is believed to be a supporter of the party, and criticised Jeremy Corbyn's leadership after the 2019 election defeat. 'I can't shake the feeling that if Tom Watson had been leader of the Labour Party the outcome of this could've all been so different,' he tweeted. 'Jeremy Corbyn has now lost two elections to opposition candidates who could've and should've been beaten.' The implication is clear: it would not have happened on Corden's watch.
So, what might the Corden regime look like? He has kept his political cards close to his chest, although he supported Remain, so he might continue Khan's pro-EU agenda. There would surely be arts grants. If he is truly devoted to Harriet Harman, we can expect him to be pro the winter fuel allowance, which would put him out of kilter with Sir Keir Starmer. He has also suggested Donald Trump's agenda isn't simply 'politics', arguing opposing the US president is about 'good versus evil'. In that regard, a Corden mayoralty would follow in Khan's mould.
Khan has also made many enemies with his aggressive anti-car policies. Corden, who gave the world Carpool Karaoke, a popular interview format in which he shout-sings over celebrity guests, might continue in this vein: what could be a worse advert for a car than the prospect of him singing in it? Cycling uptake would soar.
Corden certainly has many of the attributes needed for a modern political career. He is famous, for a start, which is increasingly the main thing voters look for in a leader. The example of Trump shows that there is no ceiling to success, whatever your other personal qualities, provided you have been on telly a bit. Corden has broad appeal too. Granted, it is comic appeal. But it is broad. Gavin & Stacey and The Late Late Show pulled in vast audiences.
He also has no shortage of famous friends, who he might rope in to the mayoralty. Harry Styles would be a good tsar for the capital's ailing nightlife. There's also Brooklyn Beckham, a man who has held a dizzying number of jobs – photographer, chef, hot sauce entrepreneur, racing car driver – without succeeding at any of them. In this regard, is he so different from Chris Grayling? Beckham without portfolio. And could Corden be the man, finally, to get his pal Prince Harry home? He has shown that after years of self-inflicted exile in California, it is possible to move back to the UK and bring a long-running family comedy-drama to a satisfactory conclusion. Harry take note.
Anna Wintour, another friend of Corden's, was said to have been disappointed not to be Barack Obama's ambassador to the UK. She'd be a natural deputy mayor for culture, but it would be more interesting to see what she would do at Transport for London. The uniforms would be good, at any rate.
Perhaps most importantly, Corden is also thick-skinned, having endured years of criticism about his character. There are many anecdotes about the star's rudeness and petulance in person. Last year Lily Allen said he had come on a bit strong, to which he – sorry, sources close to him – replied that he was 'over people talking about him in a negative way'. Then there was his much-publicised feud with the New York restaurateur Keith McNally, who called Corden a 'cretin' for his behaviour in the Manhattan brasserie Balthazar. Corden apologised and has been readmitted to McNally's restaurants. You know who else was rude in person but popular with the voters? Winston Churchill.
The man himself has yet to confirm his ambitions either way. But it would be foolish to write Corden off. As Bob Monkhouse might have said, we laughed when James Corden announced his mayoral ambitions. Will we still be laughing when he wins?
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