British Politics | Pop into Politics | Labour Party | TV Eye | 1986

This is an edited version of the original report.
‘TV Eye’ asks - should pop music be used to engage young would-be voters?
The issue is raised on the eve of’ a nationwide tour by Red Wedge - singers including Paul Weller of The Style Council and Bill Bragg, who want to persuade the young to vote Labour next time.
Bob Geldof showed the power of the pop star with his fundraising for Ethiopia, but Red Wedge is something different - the first time that a group of musicians have so formally joined with the Labour party for party political purposes.
First shown: 30/01/1986
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Quote: VT35112

[@zeddeka]

An excruciating disaster for the Labour Party. It quickly became something they wanted to disown. They never learn though, as Labour Live proved.

[@duncanbrown8150]

I thought at the time that RED WEDGE was a joke. It is best for young people especially in 2021, to have the right to think for themselves.
Pop singers and celebrities should not lecture young people on who they should vote for.
It’s up to young people to decide if they want to vote for a political party, they think who would represent them best.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

I think that its ingrained not have any Left of Centre policies in U.K especially England!

[@beandipcartography]

Miles Copeland ... no.

[@goodlife6145]

I find myself agreeing with Miles Copeland here, though I have no time for neither left nor right. Also, whilst I think it's fine for pop musicians to air their views in their songs and even interviews, it's a bad idea to align themselves with political parties.