Labour Coogan says 'failed' party is paving way for Reform UK

Steve Coogan has accused Keir Starmer's Labour government of a "derogation of all the principles they were supposed to represent" and said they were paving the way for the "racist clowns" of Reform UK.

- Josh Halliday

The actor, comedian and producer said the party he had long supported was now for people "inside the M25" and described the prime minister's first year in power as underwhelming.

"I knew before the election he was going to be disappointing. He hasn't disappointed me in how disappointing he's been," he said.

Coogan spoke to the Guardian before an address to the annual Co-op Congress in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, where he called for locally led grassroots movements to assemble across Britain and take back control from "multinational institutions and billionaires".

The Bafta-winning actor, best known for his Alan Partridge on-screen persona, has backed Labour in general elections but switched his support last year to the Green party.

Coogan, 59, said he agreed "wholeheartedly" with the statement released by the former Labour MP Zarah Sultana on Thursday, when she announced she was quitting the party to co-lead a leftwing alternative with Jeremy Corbyn.