Celebrities doing politics have historically met with mixed success, but that hasn't deterred One Direction. The band have urged their fans to write to George Osborne ahead of the Budget next week, demanding that he preserve foreign aid and take steps to reduce tax avoidance.
Harry Styles and his bandmates are offering free concert tickets to fans who engage with politics through Global Citizen, an international organisation promoting social activism and tackling issues that perpetuate global poverty.
Music fans can acquire points towards tickets by completing tasks such as sending a pre-written letter to George Osborne (two extra points are available if they write their own letter).
Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Bastille, The National and McBusted are also taking part, as well as veteran stars including Monty Python, Pearl Jam and Neil Young. Global Citizen have likened to project to an online Live Aid.
Such big names explicity asking fans to approach politicians is relatively unusual, given that in recent years younger celebrities have seemed less eager to become overtly linked to political parties. In 2013 Russell Brand enthusiastically defended his right not to vote, and in the 2010 general election young stars in particular were reluctant to align themselves publicly with parties vying for government.
And politicians are usually eager to get younger famous people onside. Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, thanked the One Direction boys for their support:
JustineGreening Justine Greening
@onedirection Thank you for backing @DFID_UK @Number10gov @hmtreasury fight vs extreme poverty & suffering worldwide.
And fans were excited to be playing a part in politics with their idols' approval:
umniall ☺FOLLOW ME ZAYN☺
@GlblCtznUK @onedirection your website is so cool! i'm glad i joined :)
MelissaMaqruez Melissa Marquez
@onedirection @GlblCtzn @GlblCtznUK time to make a change! Getting connected and taking action!
In 2010, Daniel Radcliffe backed the Liberal Democrats after claiming to have had "a good chat" with Nick Clegg, but other major celebrities to take sides publicly were of an older generation: Michael Caine (Conservative), Alex Ferguson (Labour), Brian Eno and Colin Firth (both Liberal Democrat).
Monty Python are getting involved with the new initiative, but in 1992 John Cleese's endorsement of the Lib Dems did not lead to election success. He filmed a three-minute monologue praising the party, but their share of the vote fell by five per cent compared with the 1987 election.
Often when celebrities have declared their political allegiances the result has been embarrassing. In 1996 Geri Halliwell said that Margaret Thatcher "was the first Spice Girl", a statement that was greeted with derision, and although Oasis supported Labour in 1997, later Noel Gallagher confessed his regret: "A lot of us got carried away with the New Labour thing, me included... When Tony Blair was courting the music business idiots like me thought we could have a say, but it became a publicity stunt on his behalf."
The Global Citizen initiative, despite encouraging people to contact the Chancellor, does not align itself with any specific party, and only claims to have the aim of reducing extreme poverty through activism.
Stars wary of supporting one party over another may yet survive this project with their images intact – which may be one reason why they have been keen to sign up.
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