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Dave Rowntree Alamy Stock Photo

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree selected as Labour candidate in next UK general election

Rowntree said he was “absolutely thrilled” to be selected. “Now the work begins,” he added.

BLUR DRUMMER DAVE Rowntree has been selected by the Labour Party as a candidate in the UK’s next general election. 

Rowntree will be contesting the Mid Sussex seat in the south of England, currently held by Conservative MP Mims Davies – who won it in 2019. Before that it was held for decades by Winston Churchill’s grandson, Nicholas Soames. 

As well as being a musician, Rowntree has worked as a solicitor, animator and radio presenter. He has previously contested and lost different seats in England and has served as a Labour county councillor. He was a prominent critic of Brexit, describing it as an “abomination”. 

Rowntree said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he was “absolutely thrilled” to be selected. “Now the work begins,” he added. 

The Mid Sussex Labour account on X said: “We think Dave will be an excellent and a very successful candidate.” 

Just prior to his selection, the Britpop rocker had harsh words for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s budget announcement, saying, “This is the weirdest budget ever. A bunch of minor policy announcements”. 

He described the announcement as “a waste of a hour”. 

“Tiny policy announcements. Fiddling with the tax system. Bogus productivity savings rather than proper funding. AI fixing all problems,” he wrote on X. 

“More bogus productivity savings instead of proper public services funding. This time AI magics these savings into existence. Pathetic,” he said in reference to part of the UK Government’s budget that included using AI to perform bureaucratic health service tasks. 

Rowntree’s selection comes at a time when the Labour Party is riding high in the polls at 47%, with the Conservatives sitting at an all-time low of 20%. 

As things stand, Labour looks likely to win a major victory in the next general election, the date for which has yet to be set. It could be this year but must be held by 28 January 2025. 

Blur are an English rock band that was formed in 1988. They were a prominent force in the Britpop movement, among bands like Oasis, Pulp and Supergrass. 

They are probably best known for their 1997 hit song Song 2 and their lead singer is also the driving force behind Gorillaz. 

Blur had a reunion tour last summer which saw them play a huge gig at Malahide Castle upon the release of a comeback album entitled The Ballad of Darren. 

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    Mute The Firestarter
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:34 PM

    Amazing that you win one match, and you get into the qualifers

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:36 PM

    @The Firestarter: the would have got in even if they lost against France, tho likely unseeded

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    Mute Tezmond McVicar
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:55 PM

    @The Firestarter: what are you talking about?

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    Mute David craddock
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    Jul 19th 2024, 2:39 PM

    @The Firestarter: kinda hard not to qualify

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    Mute john kenny
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    Jul 19th 2024, 10:58 PM

    @The Firestarter: zzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute James Leahy
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    Jul 20th 2024, 11:16 AM

    @john kenny: zz

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:44 PM

    Big hard man Damien O’Sullivan giving pelters to women who have achieved more in their lives than he ever will. Damien, you are a troll on the Internet and these woman are representing their country. They stand head and shoulders above people like you. Let that sink in.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 2:39 PM

    @Sun Rise: As ever you are brave behind your keyboard and fake name. The fact you call people trolls while trolling the internet behind tells a lot about the person behind the account.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:12 PM

    @Ger Whelan: you are a vicious piece of work. He is defending the womens team show respect boy.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:24 PM

    @Sean Money: was it Putin’s fault the girls didn’t win all their games?

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:29 PM

    @Ger Whelan: you are a sick puppy. Be happy Ireland won.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 6:27 PM

    @Sean Money: Erm they didn’t win . They finished bottom of their group with 1 win out of 5 games. Hardly worth celebrating

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 9:56 PM

    @Sun Rise: I reported you just now.
    Hopefully the last comment you’ll ever make on this.
    I repeat. The current team is useless they were much better under Vera. Constructive criticism, not some misogynistic agenda you’re pushing.
    Suck on that.

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 20th 2024, 12:09 AM

    @Sun Rise: God help the team if they have likes of you ‘looking out’ for them.
    You’ll be hearing from the Journal soon. Bye bye a*****e.

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    Mute Old Times
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:19 PM

    Good draw

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:29 PM

    They’re useless

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    Mute james rowan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:31 PM

    @Damien O’Sullivan: i hope your talking about FFG,,,

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    Mute James Leahy
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    Jul 19th 2024, 1:58 PM

    @Damien O’Sullivan: Damien give that phone back to your mother until you mature a bit like a good little boy.

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 9:49 PM

    @James Leahy: Just criticising the current team. They were better under Vera.
    Why don’t you run off and troll elsewhere fool. You have no idea what you’re talking about

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    Mute Damien O'Sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2024, 10:04 PM

    @james rowan: Yeah them too

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    Mute Auld Lad
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:04 PM

    Nobody is interested in women’s soccer, it’s just not very good

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:44 PM

    @Auld Lad: 16 000 in Pairc Ui Caoimh.

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    Mute James Leahy
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:58 PM

    @Auld Lad: another Immature small boy pretending to be an Auld lad.

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    Mute Auld Lad
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    Jul 19th 2024, 6:15 PM

    @James Leahy: oh look, here’s the white Knight on his steed, getting offended on behalf of women everywhere

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    Mute Auld Lad
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    Jul 19th 2024, 6:16 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: been to bigger raves

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    Mute Clare Power
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    Jul 19th 2024, 9:32 PM

    @Auld Lad: yeah we can tell…oh the irony

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    Mute Niall English
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    Jul 20th 2024, 11:14 AM

    @Auld Lad: doubt you’ve left your mother’s basement in the past ten years.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 19th 2024, 4:10 PM

    No stopping them now after they beat France so easily

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