Conservative, Lib Dem, Labour and UKIP are all battling it out for supremacy in the upcoming General Election, but, as the politicians reach their debating climax, so does the football season.
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Doubtless the party leaders will be under serious pressure come early May as they fight for each last vote, though that isn’t the only factor which will have them beaming or crying into their bacon sandwiches (we’re looking at you Ed Miliband). A large number of them are big football fans and here’s who they support…
David Cameron – Aston Villa
The British Prime Minister is a Conservative Oxford graduate who was also educated at Eton, so it’s understandable that he is desperate to be seen as a man of the people, rather than aloof. His uncle was Sir William Dugdale, who took him to his first game aged 13 whilst he was Villa chairman. Here he can be seen despairing at a dismal performance from the Birmingham side.
Nick Clegg – Arsenal
Brought up in a quaint Buckinghamshire village, Clegg was in a perfect middle class area to sprout into an Arsenal fan. He said he was “heartbroken” when the Gunners went down to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in the 2012/13 season and presumably hasn’t recovered following their recent results in the tournament.
Ed Miliband – Leeds United
The man more famed for failing to properly eat a bacon sandwich than his political policies claims to be a “lapsed Leeds United fan”, due to his position as MP for Doncaster North. His brother, whom he pipped to the leadership of the Labour party, resigned from his position on the Sunderland board after they employed the openly fascist Paolo Di Canio as manager.
Boris Johnson – Newcastle United
Many believe Boris Johnson should have been given a professional deal somewhere following his distinguished appearance in a televised charity match against Germany. That said, he decided to follow a career in politics and is now the Mayor of London. All four of his children are Newcastle United fans.
Gordon Brown – Raith Rovers
Member of the Labour party and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was brought up in Kirkcaldy, in the area of Raith Rovers. Brown helped secure the club’s future by becoming a partial shareholder in 2005 and though it’s hard to imagine him being passionate about much, he’s a die-hard Rover.
Nicola Sturgeon – Greenock Morton
This picture was the only piece of evidence we could find to suggest that the SNP leader’s allegiances lie with the Scottish League One team, but she certainly looks to be having a whale of a time at the world famous Cappielow Park.
George Galloway – Celtic
George Galloway is certainly one of the more colourful characters in British Parliament. He is currently MP for Bradford West with the Respect Party, though the man who was once shown pretending to be a cat on Celebrity Big Brother is a big Celtic fan, having written a book on the religious and political influences on the team.
Ed Balls – Norwich City
Ed Balls is the MP for Morley and Outwood, as well as the Shadow Chancellor. He was once drawn into an argument with an Ipswich fan and fellow MP in Parliament due to their respective loyalties. He was in attendance this weekend to see Gary Hooper strengthen their bid for promotion to the Premier League, away against Bolton Wanderers.
Barack Obama – West Ham United
OK, so he’s not involved in the General Election, but Barack Obama is the most powerful man in the world and America’s first black president. He’s also been a West Ham United fan since a 2003 trip to England and he tries to watch Premier League games as often as possible.