Editing Billy Bragg (section)

==Politics and activism==
[[File:Billy Bragg on Morrissey, Cynicism, and Misogyny.webm|thumb|Bragg talking to the crowd at a rally in [[Ferguson, Missouri]], shortly after the [[shooting of Michael Brown]]]]
For all of Bragg's 30-year-plus recording career, he has been involved with grassroots, broadly leftist, political movements, and this is often reflected in his lyrics. He has also recorded and performed cover versions of socialist anthems such as "[[The Internationale]]" and "[[The Red Flag]]". Bragg said in an interview: "I don't mind being labelled a political songwriter. The thing that troubles me is being dismissed as a political songwriter".<ref>{{cite web|last=Gazette|first=The|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=a855dd81-39ba-4646-b1ae-ee720ad8a704|title=Interview: Billy Bragg|publisher=Canada.com|date=16 June 2008|access-date=10 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321062743/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=a855dd81-39ba-4646-b1ae-ee720ad8a704|archive-date=21 March 2014}}</ref> Bragg has cited [[the Clash]] as a strong influence on his politically themed material and activism:<blockquote>It wasn't so much their lyrics as what they stood for and the actions they took. That became really important to me. [[Phil Collins]] might write [[Another Day in Paradise|a song about the homeless]], but if he doesn't have the action to go with it he's just exploiting that for a subject. I got that from the Clash, and I try to remain true to that tradition as best I can.<ref>{{cite magazine | url= https://ew.com/article/2000/06/30/billy-bragg-clash/ | title= Bragg-ing Rites |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Rob |last=Brunner |date=30 June 2000 |access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref></blockquote>

===From 1983 to 1997===
Bragg's politics were focused by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]'s 144-seat majority landslide at the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]]. He told his biographer, "By 1983, the scales had fallen from my eyes".{{sfn|Collins|2018|p=144}} His record label boss Andy Macdonald observed that "his presence onstage took on more of the avenging angel".{{sfn|Collins|2018|p=145}} Bragg was at the forefront of music's influence on the [[UK miners' strike (1984–85)|1984 miners' strike]], and played many benefit gigs in towns close to coalfields such as Newport and Sunderland.{{sfn|Collins|2018|p=146}} He also released an EP during this year titled "Between the Wars", which connected struggles of class solidarity to the present issue. This single was his most successful up until this point, reaching number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.{{sfn|Tranmer|2012|pp=79–84}} The following year, after playing a short [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]-sponsored Jobs For Youth tour, he joined other like-minded activists in the public eye to form the musicians' alliance [[Red Wedge]], which promoted Labour's cause – and in turn lobbied the party on youth issues – in the run-up to the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]],{{sfn|Tranmer|2001}} with a national tour in 1986 alongside [[the Style Council]], [[Jerry Dammers]] and [[the Communards]].

Bragg travelled twice to the Soviet Union in 1986, the year [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] started to promote the policies of [[perestroika]] and [[glasnost]]. He played a gig in [[Leningrad]], and the Festival of Song in the Struggle for Peace in [[Kyiv]].{{sfn|Collins|2018|pp=181–183}}

On 12 June 1987, the night after Labour lost that year's general election, Bragg appeared on a [[After Dark (TV series)#Teresa Gorman and "Is Britain Working?"|notable edition]] of the [[Channel 4]] discussion programme ''[[After Dark (TV programme)|After Dark]]'', alongside [[David Selbourne]], [[Teresa Gorman]] and [[Hilary Hook]] among others. ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote "A show called ''Is Britain Working?'' brought together victorious Tory MP Teresa Gorman; ... Helen from the Stonehenge [[Peace Convoy|Convoy]]; old colonialist Colonel Hilary Hook... and Adrian, one of the jobless. It was a perfect example of the chemistry you can get. There were unlikely alliances (Bragg and Hook)".<ref name="Independent19880219">''The Independent'', 19 February 1988</ref> Later Gorman "stormed off the set, claiming she had been misled about the nature of the programme"<ref name="Brown">Maggie Brown, ''A Licence To Be Different'', BFI, 2007.</ref> "She told... Bragg: 'You and your kind are finished. We are the future now.'"<ref>Alwyn W. Turner, ''Rejoice! Rejoice! Britain in the 1980s'', Aurum 2010.</ref> Bragg said "I sing in smokey rooms every night and I can keep talking for far longer than you can Teresa".<ref>''An Introduction to the Nature and Functions of Language'', Jackson and Stockwell, Continuum, 2010.</ref> Bragg explained later: "She was so smug. And because she was Essex I took it personally. Then she accused me of being a fine example of Thatcherism".<ref>Daniel Rachel, ''Walls Come Tumbling Down'', Picador, 2016.</ref>

===Labour in government===
In 1999, he was invited to appear before a commission that debated possible [[reform of the House of Lords]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/400230.stm |title=Ensuring the will of the people|work=BBC News|date=22 July 1999|access-date=28 January 2010}}</ref> at which he put forward what became known as "the Bragg Method": the arrangement of the Upper House to proportionally reflect the results of a general election. "Trying to make it sexy is impossible," he said.{{sfn|Collins|2018|p=272}}

At the time of the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], Bragg promoted [[tactical voting]] in an attempt to unseat Conservative Party candidates in his adopted home county [[Dorset]], particularly in [[South Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|South Dorset]] and [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|West Dorset]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/apr/19/politics.election2001 |title=Billy Bragg drives in voting wedge |last1=Ward |first1=Lucy|date=19 April 2001 |website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The Conservatives did narrowly lose South Dorset to the Labour Party.

[[File:BillyBraggAtDemo23Jan2010.jpg|upright=0.85|right|thumb|Supporting a demonstration against police misuse of anti-terrorism legislation; [[Trafalgar Square]], London, 23 January 2010]]
Bragg has been an opponent of fascism, racism,<ref name="Bragg" /> [[bigotry]], [[sexism]] and [[homophobia]], and is a supporter of a multi-racial Britain. As a result, he has conflicted with far-right groups such as the [[British National Party]] (BNP). In a 2004 ''[[The Guardian]]'' article, Bragg was quoted as saying:<blockquote>The British National Party would probably make it into a parliament elected by [[proportional representation]], too. It would shine a torch into the dirty little corner where the BNP defecate on our democracy, and that would be much more powerful than duffing them up in the street – which I'm also in favour of.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/feb/18/constitution.lords|title=Jonathan Freedland: End of the peer show|work=The Guardian|date=18 February 2004|access-date=28 January 2010|location=London}}</ref></blockquote>

During the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]] campaign in the [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow constituency]], Bragg endorsed [[Oona King]], the Labour Party's pro-[[Iraq War]] candidate, over [[George Galloway]], the left-wing socialist anti-war candidate from the [[Respect Party]]; due to a belief that splitting the left-wing vote would allow the Conservatives to win the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redpepper.org.uk/article601.html|title=Rockin' the vote: Billy Bragg for Blair? – Red Pepper|publisher=Red Pepper|date=March 2005|access-date=28 January 2010}}</ref> Galloway overturned King's 10,000-strong majority to become the Respect Party's only MP.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4519575.stm|title=Galloway's East End street fight|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2005|access-date=28 January 2010}}</ref>

At the [[NME Awards]] in 2007, on the fifth anniversary of [[Joe Strummer]]'s death, Bragg founded Jail Guitar Doors (taking its name from a [[Jail Guitar Doors|song by the Clash]]), an organisation aimed at supplying instruments to prisons and encouraging prisoners to address problems in a non-confrontational way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jailguitardoors.org.uk |title=Jail Guitar Doors |access-date=23 January 2011}}</ref> An American chapter of the organisation was launched in 2009 by [[MC5]]'s [[Wayne Kramer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jailguitardoors.org/about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322233616/http://www.jailguitardoors.org/about.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2010|title=Jail Guitar Doors: Our History|access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref>

In January 2010, Bragg stated his intention to withhold his income tax as a protest against the [[Royal Bank of Scotland]]'s plan to pay bonuses of approximately £1,500,000,000 to staff in its investment banking business. Bragg set up a Facebook group, made appearances on radio and television news programmes, and made a speech at [[Speakers' Corner]] in London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] saying, "Millions are already facing stark choices: are they willing to work longer hours for less money, or would they rather be unemployed? I don't see why the bankers at RBS shouldn't be asked the same".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article7010492.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=2015164 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611165054/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article7010492.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=2015164 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2011 |title=BraggRBS |work=The Times |location=UK |access-date=1 February 2010 |first=Anushka |last=Asthana}}</ref>

===From 2010 to 2014===
In the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Bragg supported the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] because "they've got the best manifesto".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7616323/General-Election-2010-Billy-Bragg-pledges-to-support-Liberal-Democrats.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7616323/General-Election-2010-Billy-Bragg-pledges-to-support-Liberal-Democrats.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=General Election 2010: Billy Bragg pledges to support Liberal Democrats |date=22 April 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Bragg was also very active in his hometown of [[Barking, London|Barking]] as part of [[Searchlight (magazine)|''Searchlight'']] magazine's [[Hope not Hate]] campaign, where the BNP's leader [[Nick Griffin]] was standing for election. At one point during the campaign Bragg squared up to BNP [[London Assembly|London Assembly Member]] [[Richard Barnbrook]], calling him a "Fascist racist" and saying "when you're gone from this borough, we will rebuild this community". The BNP came third on election day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMA3-vVEXL4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/SMA3-vVEXL4| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|title=Bragg Vs Barnbrook in Barking & Dagenham |publisher=Searchlight|date=19 April 2010 |access-date=23 February 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In January 2011, news sources reported that 20 to 30 residents of Bragg's Dorset village, [[Burton Bradstock]], had received anonymous letters viciously attacking him and his politics, and urging residents to oppose him in the village. He claimed that a BNP supporter was behind the letters, which argued that Bragg is a hypocrite for advocating socialism while living a wealthy lifestyle, and referred to him as anti-British and pro-immigration.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/06/billy-bragg-neighbours-hate-mail |title=Billy Bragg's neighbours urged to drive him out of village |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=6 January 2011 |access-date=6 January 2011 |first=Steven |last=Morris}}</ref>

In July 2011 Bragg joined the growing protests over the [[News of the World phone hacking affair]] with the release of his "Never Buy the Sun" single, which references many of the scandal's key points including the Milly Dowler case, police bribes and associated political fallout. It also draws on the 22-year Liverpool boycott of ''The Sun'' for their [[Hillsborough disaster and The Sun|coverage of the Hillsborough disaster]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billybragg.co.uk/sun.php |title=Never buy The Sun |access-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714113634/http://www.billybragg.co.uk/sun.php |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2011, Bragg joined the [[Occupy Movement]] protests in the [[City of London]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/07237-billy-bragg-interview |title=Protest And Occupation: Billy Bragg Interviewed On The Future Of The Left |last1=Perry |first1=Kevin E.G.|date=25 October 2011 |website=[[The Quietus]] |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> In 2013, despite his scathing criticism of [[Margaret Thatcher]], he urged people not to celebrate the death of the former Conservative Prime Minister:<blockquote>The death of [[Margaret Thatcher]] is nothing more than a salient reminder of how Britain got into the mess that we are in today. Of why ordinary working people are no longer able to earn enough from one job to support a family; of why there is a shortage of decent affordable housing... of why cynicism and greed became the hallmarks of our society. Raising a glass to the death of an infirm old lady changes none of this. The only real antidote to cynicism is activism. Don't celebrate – organise!<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/billybraggofficial/posts/10151324426542471  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/44905697470/10151324426542471 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=From Billy Bragg, Calgary, AB, Canada, on the death of Margaret Thatcher |last=Bragg |first=Billy |date=8 April 2013 |publisher=Facebook}}{{cbignore}}, cited in {{cite book |editor=Annemette Kirkegaard |editor2=Helmi Järviluoma |editor3=Jan Sverre Knudsen |editor4=Jonas Otterbeck |title=Researching Music Censorship |date=23 June 2017 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6VwpDwAAQBAJ&q=%22The+only+real+antidote+to+cynicism+is+activism.+Don%27t+celebrate+%E2%80%93+organise%22&pg=PA23 |page=23|publisher=Cambridge Scholars |isbn=9781443878678 }}</ref></blockquote>

In 2014, Bragg joined the [[March in March]] anti-government protests<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/march-in-march-tony-abbott-gina-rinehart-cop-blasts-in-sydney-protest-20140316-34v63.html |title=March in March: Tony Abbott, Gina Rinehart cop blasts in Sydney protest |first=Jacqueline|last=Maley|date=16 March 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> in Sydney, Australia.

In June 2014, Bragg joined other musicians (including [[Radiohead]]'s [[Ed O'Brien]]) in backing a call for the EU to intervene in a dispute between YouTube and independent labels. According to a BBC News report, the video-streaming site was offering "non-negotiable contracts" to its planned, [[Spotify]]-like music-subscription service to labels such as [[XL Recordings]], [[4AD]], [[Cooking Vinyl]] and [[Domino Recording Company|Domino]] "accompanied by the threat that music videos they have posted to their YouTube channels will be blocked from site altogether if they do not agree to the terms".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27694353|date=4 June 2014 |title=Billy Bragg and other indie musicians blast YouTube rates | work=BBC News}}</ref>

Bragg supports both [[Scottish independence|Scottish]] and [[Welsh independence]].<ref>{{cite web |date=10 February 2014|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/billy-bragg-backs-scottish-independence-1-3300355|title=Billy Bragg backs Scottish independence|work=The Scotsman|access-date=10 June 2014}}</ref> In 2014, after [[David Bowie]] spoke in favour of Scotland remaining part of the UK, Bragg said, "Bowie's intervention encourages people in England to discuss the issues of the independence referendum, and I think English people should be discussing it, so I welcome his intervention".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26267726|title=Oldest Brit winner David Bowie enters independence debate|work=BBC News|date=20 February 2014|access-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> Bragg was a vocal supporter of Scottish independence during the campaign prior to [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|the referendum]] on 18 September 2014. Bragg wrote an article for the ''Guardian'' publication on 16 September, in which he addressed the objections he had previously received from people who conflated Scottish nationalism with the far-right ethos of the BNP. He described the independence campaign as "civic nationalism" and his opinion piece concluded:

<blockquote>
Support for Scottish self-determination might not fit neatly into any leftwing pigeonhole, but it does chime with an older progressive tradition that runs deep in English history – a dogged determination to hold the over-mighty to account. If, during the constitutional settlement that will follow the referendum, we in England can rediscover our Roundhead tradition, we might yet counter our historic weakness for ethnic nationalism with an outpouring of civic engagement that creates a fairer society for all.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Billy Bragg|title=Exclusive: Scottish nationalism and British nationalism aren't the same|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/16/scottish-nationalism-british-westminster-class|access-date=18 September 2014|work=The Guardian|date=16 September 2014}}</ref></blockquote>

===2015 to present===
Bragg was one of several celebrities who endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]'s [[Caroline Lucas]] at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]].<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/24/celebrities-sign-statement-support-caroline-lucas-not-green-party | title= Celebrities sign statement of support for Caroline Lucas – but not the Greens | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Jessica | last=Elgot | date=24 April 2015 | access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, Bragg endorsed [[2015 Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign|Jeremy Corbyn's campaign]] in the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|Labour Party leadership election]]. He said: "His [Corbyn's] success so far shows you how bland our politics have become, in the aim of winning those swing voters in [[middle England]] the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] has lost touch with its roots. We live in a time of austerity and what you want from that is not more austerity, you want compassion".<ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite news |last=Hartley|first=Eve|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/27/billy-backs-the-beardjeremy-corbyn-billy-bragg-supports-labour-leadership-condemns-tony-blair_n_7879344.html|title=Jeremy Corbyn: Billy Bragg Supports The Labour Leadership Contender And Condemns Tony Blair|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=27 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> On an edition of ''[[Question Time (TV programme)|Question Time]]'' in October 2015, he said that Corbyn represents a political "urge for change" and that [[Ed Miliband]] had failed to win the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] because Miliband and the party followed "the old way of doing things".<ref>{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Owen|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/29/question-time-billy-bragg-corbyn_n_8427308.html|title=BBC Question Time: Billy Bragg Hopes Labour MPs Critical of Jeremy Corbyn Are 'Squirming In Their Seats'|work=The Huffington Post|date=30 October 2015|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> In 2016, Bragg, along with numerous other celebrities, toured the UK to support Corbyn's bid to become [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]].<ref name="jc4pmtour">{{cite web|url=http://www.jc4pmtour.com/|title=#JC4PM|publisher=jc4pmtour|date=28 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701133711/http://jc4pmtour.com/|archive-date=1 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |last=Wilkinson|first=Michael|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12134051/Celebrities-to-tour-Britain-in-Jeremy-Corbyn-For-Prime-Minister-musical-show.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/12134051/Celebrities-to-tour-Britain-in-Jeremy-Corbyn-For-Prime-Minister-musical-show.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Celebrities to tour Britain in 'Jeremy Corbyn For Prime Minister' musical show|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=1 February 2016|access-date=15 July 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also voiced his support for Remain in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 EU referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/eu-referendum-brexit-remain-who-do-celebrities-support-david-beckham-jk-rowling-a7094751.html|title=The celebrities that support Brexit (and the ones backing Remain)|work=The Independent|access-date=27 November 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In August 2016, ''The Times'' reported that at the [[Edinburgh International Book Festival|Edinburgh Book Festival]], Bragg had said: "I worry about Jeremy that he's a kind of twentieth century Labour man", and that "we need to be reaching out to people". Described as a "previously loyal supporter", who has "lent his support to Mr Corbyn on numerous occasions since he became Labour leader", ''The Times'' quoted Bragg: "I don't have a simple answer. My hope is that the party does not split and that we resolve this stalemate". Corbyn at the time was campaigning in an enforced [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|second leadership election]] in the summer of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sanderson|first=David|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/corbyn-is-stuck-in-the-last-century-says-bragg-trhv6tqvj|title=Corbyn is stuck in the last century says Bragg|work=The Times|location=London|date=16 August 2016|access-date=16 August 2016}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

After ''The Times'' article appeared, the singer tweeted that he had "joined the long list of people stitched up by the [[Rupert Murdoch|Murdoch]] papers"<ref name="Jackson">{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Jasper|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/aug/16/billy-bragg-times-jeremy-corbyn-labour-murdoch|title=Billy Bragg: the Times twisted my words by claiming I don't back Jeremy Corbyn|work=The Guardian|date=16 August 2016|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> and accused the ''Times'' of "twisting my words to attack Corbyn", urging "don't let Murdoch sow discord".<ref>{{cite news|last=Oppenheim|first=Maya|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-corbyn-billy-bragg-the-times-labour-leader-support-comments-words-twisted-a7194036.html|title=Billy Bragg accuses ''The Times'' of 'twisting his words' and insists he is still backing Jeremy Corbyn|work=The Independent|date=16 August 2016|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' reproduced a quote from a recording of the event absent from ''The Times'' article: "It's a challenge. Labour has fires to fight on different fronts. This would be happening even without Corbyn if any of the other candidates had won last year, these problems would still be there".<ref name="Jackson"/> In August 2016, Bragg also endorsed [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s campaign in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|Labour Party leadership election]].<ref name="Jackson" />

During the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|general election]] campaign in May 2017, Bragg added his signature to a letter published in ''[[The Guardian]]'' calling for Labour to withdraw its candidates in two constituencies; [[Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency)|Brighton Pavilion]] and the [[Isle of Wight (UK Parliament constituency)|Isle of Wight]] and potentially allowing the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] to defeat the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Tories]] in both, where Labour were running second. The letter was also signed by Labour MP [[Clive Lewis (politician)|Clive Lewis]], former policy chief [[Jon Cruddas]], former shadow children's minister [[Tulip Siddiq]] and journalists [[Paul Mason (journalist)|Paul Mason]] and [[Owen Jones]]. The initiative was shut down by Jeremy Corbyn.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-shuts-down-labour-10334407 |title= Jeremy Corbyn shuts down Labour MPs' call to pull out of election seats to help the Green Party |last=Bloom |first=Dan |work=Daily Mirror |location= London |date=1 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>

In June 2019, Bragg publicly criticised fellow singer-songwriter [[Morrissey]] for his recent political comments and endorsement of a [[far-right politics|far-right]] political party, and accused him of dragging the legacy of [[Johnny Marr]] and [[the Smiths]] "through the dirt".<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/morrissey-race-comments-billy-bragg-the-smiths-johnny-marr-nigel-farage-a8978706.html | title= Billy Bragg says he's 'heartbroken' for fans of The Smiths after latest Morrissey outburst | work=The Independent | first=Roisin | last=O'Connor | date= 28 June 2019 | access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=guardian3>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/may/30/bigmouth-strikes-again-morrissey-songs-loneliness-shyness-misfits-far-right-party-tonight-show-jimmy-fallon|website=[[The Guardian]]|first=Tim|last=Jonze|year=2019|title= 
Bigmouth strikes again and again: why Morrissey fans feel so betrayed|quote=“But now he’s betraying those fans, betraying his legacy and empowering the very people Smiths fans were brought into being to oppose. He’s become the Oswald Mosley of pop”}}</ref>

In November 2019, Bragg endorsed the Labour Party in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]].<ref name="dazeddigital">{{cite news |last=Dawson|first=Brit|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/politics/article/46937/1/jeremy-corbyn-lily-allen-mia-labour-arts-for-all-policy-uk-general-election|title=Jeremy Corbyn, Lily Allen, and M.I.A. launch Labour's Arts for All policy|work=Dazed|date=25 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>