Comedian Eddie Izzard has been campaigning in a seaside town in our region ahead of the local elections.

The long-time Labour supporter posted a video from New Brighton in Wirral yesterday, asking viewers to support Paul Martin, one of the party’s candidates in the ward.

Dan Davies, chief executive of Rockpoint Leisure, a company which has opened bars, restaurants, record stores and much else besides in the seaside town, also appeared in the video.

Speaking about New Brighton, Ms Izzard said: “Everything he (Dan) and Paul are doing, particularly [what] Dan’s doing, all the regeneration here in New Brighton, as someone who grew up in a seaside town, all the seaside towns need all the help they can get.

“What you are doing here is fantastic. It’s the first time i’ve seen all of this wonderful stuff and the murals and the regeneration here, so it’s a very positive thing.”

Wirral Council’s elections take place on May 6, although many will vote by post this time around, with record numbers understood to have signed up to vote in this way in the borough.

The council is on a knife edge, with Labour needing to gain just two seats to take back the majority it lost in 2019 and the opposition parties fighting hard to take seats from the Labour Party and make the authority more co-operative and accountable in their opinion.

Labour is focusing on its major regeneration plans which it says will “transform” parts of East Wirral, including Birkenhead, and a blueprint to protect the greenbelt in its campaign.

The Conservatives say Labour’s delay in producing a Local Plan has put the greenbelt at risk and Wirral Council must learn from mistakes made in Liverpool Council and improve transparency and engagement with the public.

The Liberal Democrats say an all-party approach is responsible for the progress of regeneration plans in the borough, while the group is also campaigning to improve standards for care workers and has a pledge to protect the greenbelt.

The Green Party is campaigning on a message of ensuring Wirral’s regeneration delivers green and attractive spaces, while arguing much progress in this area and others is down to Labour losing its majority due to Green Party gains in 2019.

Green councillors have helped to end ventures such as the controversial Hoylake Golf Resort plan the party argues.

New Brighton is electing two councillors next week.

Candidates standing in New Brighton

Moira Gommon (Green Party)

Tony Jones (Labour Party)

Adam Keenan (Liberal Democrats)

Paul Martin (Labour Party)

Darren May (Conservative Party)

Tony Pritchard (Conservative Party)

Charlie Smethurst (Liberal Democrats)

Cynthia Stonall (Green Party)