Bring it on! Ed Miliband welcomes Jeremy Clarkson’s bid for his Doncaster North seat… but doubts whether ex-Top Gear host will see through his challenge

Ed Miliband has welcomed Jeremy Clarkson’s bid for the Doncaster North seat but cast doubt on whether the TV star will actually launch a bid to become an MP.

Former Top Gear presenter Clarkson, who now runs the ‘Diddly Squat’ farm in Oxfordshire, recently hinted he could try to become the next MP for Donacaster North.

The South Yorkshire seat has been held by Mr Miliband, Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, since 2005.

But in a social media post earlier this week, Clarkson paved the way for a high-profile challenge to the Cabinet minister when voters next head to the polls.

The 65-year-old, who was born in Mr Miliband’s constituency, wrote: ‘Doncaster North People. Are you satisfied with your MP?

‘Would you like it if someone from your forest threw him out?’

But Mr Miliband poured cold water on Clarkson’s claims when asked about a possible challenge from the host of Clarkson’s Farm and The Grand Tour.

“I think he is a long-standing candidate for my seat,” Mr Miliband told Sky News this morning. ‘I think he said he would contest my seat in 2013.

‘So look, it’s up to other people to decide whether they want to run for Parliament, including in my seat. I welcome all comers. Let’s see what happens.’

Mr Miliband later told LBC: ‘Jeremy Clarkson or someone else – I say bring it on!’

Mr Miliband pours cold water on Clarkson’s claims when asked about a possible challenge from Clarkson’s Farm and The Grand Tour presenter

Mr Miliband won Doncaster North with a majority of more than 9,100 at last year’s election.

However, current poll trends suggest he could now be unseated by Reform UK in the upcoming general election.

Clarkson has harshly criticized Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labor Government since they came to power last July.

He joined farmers’ protests against changes to inheritance tax and also spoke out against the Net Zero campaign spearheaded by Mr Miliband.

Clarkson has previously said he might enter politics ahead of the 2015 general election, at a time when Labor is led by Mr Miliband.

In 2013 he wrote on Twitter: ‘I think I can stand at the next election regardless of where I come from Doncaster North. Thoughts?’

Clarkson has expressed support for the Conservatives in the past and is a friend of former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron.

In a recent column in The Sun newspaper, he praised the Conservative Party for the ‘common sense’ they showed at the recent party conference in Manchester.

He also launched an attack on Reform leader Nigel Farage and Sir Keir.

‘Farage rarely talks about the economy and when he does his numbers don’t add up,’ Clarkson wrote.

‘He says he wants to cut taxes and increase spending by £150bn. Ha?

‘But before anyone has a chance to question his logic, he heads back to his safe haven and starts raging about the little boats.

‘Meanwhile Starmer has no idea what to do about the economy because he’s obtuse. That’s why he broke it.

‘The truth is that nothing will work in this country if the economy isn’t growing, and it won’t grow if we have a government that stifles it with rules and taxes.’