Julia Hartley Brewer: ’Eddie Izzard is a man!’

Eddie Izzard has told people to “join the 21st century” after two MPs made “transphobic” comments about the comedian, who is campaigning to become a Labour election candidate. The 60-year-old launched his bid this month to become Sheffield Central’s MP after the constituency’s incumbent, Paul Blomfield, announced he would be standing down at the next general election. Mr Izzard, who has many connections to Sheffield, having studied accounting, launched his creative career and carried out local activism there, said the city needs “to be bolder, brighter, stronger… on the map”. Speaking to the PA news agency on Thursday, he said he has been getting “a great reaction in the street” during his campaign but a small minority of people have made transphobic comments. Earlier this week, Conservative MP Lee Anderson said he “would not follow him into the toilets” if she came to Parliament, while Labour MP Rosie Duffield said: “I’m not calling Eddie Izzard a woman.” #talktv #juliahart