Tony Hadley, the former Spandau Ballet frontman, has questioned the right-wing label often attached to him, describing himself instead as a 'conservative communist'.
Speaking to Metro, Hadley said: 'Right-wing's a bit of a weird one, isn't it? It's like right-wing, left-wing, middle. I've always said I'm a conservative communist.'
For the Gold singer, that means 'everybody's equal' and should be treated as such, 'no matter what your job is'. 'But then I don't have a problem making money,' he added.
Views on politics and money
Hadley reasoned: 'We need to be kinder to each other. We need to treat people equally, but also we need people to invest in our country. Everybody needs to make money in one form or another. Making money shouldn't be a bad thing.'
Despite his 'very strong views', he doesn't believe artists should be too vocal on political issues. 'If you want to be a politician, go into politics,' he quipped, having reportedly considered running for Parliament in 2008.
'We've all got views on the world and politics,' the former I'm A Celeb star continued. 'My view is that I love my country absolutely to bits, but it has not been run properly for a number of years.'
Proposal for leadership
He suggested picking the 'cleverest businessman on the planet', paying them a hefty £5million salary and letting them run the place. 'Or her', he corrected himself, jokingly suggesting a Dragon's Den star should take the role. Metro offered that Deborah Meaden could be the woman for the job, which he agreed.
'I just want someone to grab it by the coat and just shake it up a bit and do what's right for everybody,' the True singer added.
50 years of music and a new tour
It's been 50 years since Tony and Spandau's breakthrough. True remains a classic after four weeks at number one in the UK and a top five hit in the US, while Gold has become a football anthem.
Tony is heading out on The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026 to celebrate, with 19 shows lined up boasting a set list spanning crooner classics, festive tracks, and a sprinkling of Spandau. Spandau Ballet numbers have been reimagined with the Big Band, which he has toured with on and off for several years.
Reflections on the band and future plans
Despite parting ways with the rest of the band in 2017, Tony has never tired of those chart-topping numbers. 'I don't have a problem with singing them,' he reflected. 'They're part of my life and part of everybody else's life.'
He has not spoken to former bandmates Martin Kemp, Gary Kemp, and John Keeble in over a decade but did catch up with Steve Norman recently for a 'nice drink'. 'I don't have any angst,' he said. 'Times a healer in a way, but I don't have any problems with the rest of the guys. They get on with their lives. I get on with mine.'
As for a potential reunion, Tony believes it would 'take an awful lot' for him to return, even if next year marks 10 years since he left. He remains 'hypercritical' of everything he does. 'I don't rest on my laurels,' he shared. 'I'm still learning. I'm still criticising myself, still beat myself up. I want to be better all the time.'
Tony has almost finished his next album and has a clear plan for the one after that. 'I want to be better, to write better songs,' he shared. 'I said to my band, I want us to just get in a room and I want us to thrash it. Let's just get 10 songs. Everybody throw their ideas into the pot. [Then] just record it live in a studio somewhere to get back to that kind of almost 60s vibe where the Beatles and the Stones just got in a room and made it together, and I've never really done that.'
On fame and reality TV
After 50 years in the business, Tony is much more focused on his music and stated he's largely 'done' with the celebrity part of his life. 'I think [the celebrity thing] has kind of had its day,' he said when asked about another reality show. 'I mean, we all love traitors,' he added. 'The whole country is gripped and my kids say, "Oh, come on, Dad, go on the traitors." No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I've done my bit.'
He might appear on a cookery show or do a quick chat for the news but as for the 'let's wheel them out and see what they can do' shows, 'it's not for [him] anymore'. That being said, Tony would love to be a traitor should Claudia Winkleman and producers ever come knocking. 'The only trouble is I can't lie,' he confessed. 'I would try and fabricate something and just start laughing, but then they probably wouldn't know whether I was telling the truth or not. So who knows?'
Tickets for Tony Hadley's The Christmas Big Band Tour are on sale now via www.myticket.co.uk.
