Danny Dyer: ‘I don’t trust Keir Starmer. Why Angela Rayner’s not leading things I don’t know’

Danny Dyer has called for better working-class representation in politics in a new interview with the Big Issue. Dyer said he was ready for a change of government – but was unimpressed with Keir Starmer so far.

“The Tories are such fucking arseholes that Keir Starmer got in not for what Labour were saying but because the Tories fucked it up so much,” Dyer said.

“And I don’t like this man. I don’t trust this man. He got the job handed to him on a plate. So what are you going to do to show us you’re different? And he’s gone straight in on pensioners? I find that fucking fascinating.

“This is meant to be a working-class party. We need more working-class people in politics. Why Angela Raynor’s not leading things I don’t know. When she speaks, I listen.”

The actor, who will next be seen in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s classic novel Rivals, made the comments in an interview after spending the morning selling the Big Issue on Charing Cross Road alongside vendor André Rostant.

It was an eye-opening experience for Dyer. As one of the most famous people in the country, he is not used to people walking past him in the street. But, eventually, he sold a lot of magazines.

“Andre warned me the tabard was like an invisibility cloak,” Dyer said. “But there’s not a lot of money out there. People are struggling.

“And I didn’t think I’d sell one, so I’m very happy. There’s a lot of very kind people out there and that gives me hope. It was just nice to be able to help Andre. He is a wonderful man.”

Dyer used the new interview to express solidarity with young people who are struggling in the wake of austerity, the cost of living crisis and the ongoing housing crisis.

“What career do you take as a young person?” he said. “You can work your bollocks off but you are not going to get on the property ladder.

“If you still can’t get a roof over your head, what are we trying to strive for? We are not on the planet for long. The formula was that you get a job, raise enough money, maybe meet someone, get on the property ladder or have kids and pay for that house to leave a legacy. I can see why young people aren’t inspired.”

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The actor talked about a range of subjects in our exclusive interview. From the difficulty of making houses out of potato waffles to the 1980s ballads that soundtracked his early years, playing Jilly Cooper’s sexual fantasy in Rivals and his experience of classism in the culture industries, Dyer did not hold back. He also reiterated his contempt for David Cameron as he called for stronger leadership from Keir Starmer.

“The whole country needs to be inspired,” he said. “We need a fucking leader. And we haven’t had a leader in a very, very long time.

“The last supposed leader was the twat David Cameron. And when the shit hit the fan, he left. That’s not what leaders do. Since him, we’ve had nobody. So it’s a worrying time. We did need change. But I don’t feel anything’s changed as of yet.”

Read the full interview with Danny Dyer in the Big Issue magazine – on sale now until 13 October. Rivals is on Disney+ from 18 October.

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