Idol's Simon Cowell votes "YES" to Conservative Leader David Cameron in UK Election

A GREAT endorsement to nab the night before the polls open... Simon Cowell of "American Idol" fame has given his rare "YES" vote to Conservative Leader David Cameron, and his infamous "NO" to both Labour's Gordon Brown and LibDems Nick Clegg.

U.K.'s Conservatives get a "yes" from Simon Cowell
Thu May 6, 2010 1:55am EDT
By Mimi Turner

LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - He's long been Britain's most influential pop mogul, reveling in the power to make or break careers. Now Simon Cowell has stepped into the political frame, giving opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron his ringing endorsement to be the next Prime Minister.

Cowell's comments -- in the Conservative-supporting Sun newspaper -- come as Britain's broadcasters move into top gear, outlining their high tech coverage of the election May 6 and through the night as the results come in on the least predictable British election in several decades.

In a front-page exclusive with the Sun -- the Rupert Murdoch-owned market-leading tabloid here -- Cowell waxed positive about Cameron, who faces Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his battle to woo the electorate when the ballot boxes open for business on Thursday morning.

"I have met David on two occasions. I liked him immediately ... I have always trusted my gut instinct -- and this was a guy who I thought would do the right things for this country," Cowell wrote. "I believe he is the prime minister Britain needs at this time. He has substance and the stomach to navigate us through difficult times."

He also saved some pretty choice words for LibDem leader Nick Clegg, which ought to take some of the wind out of their sails...

But he dismissed Nick Clegg, leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, as "made for TV." Clegg's party saw its popularity surge after his strong performances in US-style televised debates.

"We are not talent show judges picking pretty-sounding contestants now. The future government of our country is so much more important than that," he wrote.