Michael Palin addresses John Cleese’s political views

Michael Palin has described the recent political activities of his longtime Monty Python collaborator, John Cleese, as “bewildering.” In a recent interview with The Times, Palin addressed Cleese’s public support for the far-right political party Restore Britain and its leader, Rupert Lowe.

Cleese has faced criticism for his comments regarding British values and Muslim belief systems, though he has described himself as “Islamosceptic” rather than Islamophobic. Palin suggested that Cleese’s actions may stem from a desire to provoke and disrupt consensus, noting that Cleese possesses a highly analytical mind but may not fully grasp how his political endorsements will be perceived by the public given his history as a satirist.

The discussion also touched upon the perceived irony of Cleese’s political stances following his move to the Caribbean island of Nevis in 2018.