Mitchell: 'Sir Alan suited to new role'

David Mitchell has said that Conservative party objections to the appointment of Sir Alan Sugar as "enterprise tsar" are based on concerns about publicity rather than impartiality.

The comedian told The Guardian that it would "help no-one" if TV personalities were only chosen from individuals who "tread a perfect median between left and right".

Mitchell said: "The Tories are just desperate to rob Labour of its little publicity coup because Sir Alan Sugar comes across on TV as exactly the sort of c*ck who Tory voters like.

"The real problem with Sugar's new appointment is that it's such an obvious and grim attempt at populism."

He added: "Sir Alan Sugar is perfectly suited to the job of 'enterprise tsar' because it's not a job - it's an exercise in presentation, just like his role on the BBC.

"In less bewildered times, an ambitious opposition would welcome the opportunity to ridicule such a disastrously craven government appointment. Instead, they're meanly trying to block it because they're annoyed they didn't think of it themselves."