Renowned classicist and commentator Mary Beard is backing Labour’s Daniel Zeichner to win the general election in Cambridge.

The TV celebrity classicist has given her personal backing to Daniel Zeichner’s campaign for re-election as the city’s MP by putting her name on his nomination papers as his “official proposer”.

Every candidate standing for election needs to have a proposer, seconder and an additional eight signatures from local residents on their nomination form.

Dame Mary said:

“Daniel has voted how I would have wanted him to vote each step of the way. So I’m voting for him to carry on the excellent job he does for us as Cambridge’s MP. After his record here, there would be something a bit perverse about not voting for him now.”

Mr Zeichner was delighted to have the admired scholar backing his campaign. He said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to have Mary’s endorsement. She is a much-admired, hugely respected and well known figure across Britain and the world. She has achieved what very few people can do, reaching a very wide audience by always being entirely authentic.

“She is an astute commentator on political and current affairs, and Cambridge through and through.”