When it comes to fashion, hair and handbags, celebrities have a huge amount of influence over us.

But it seems when it comes to politics – or AV referendums at least – celebrities are failing to make an impact.

In a recent YouGov survey for the Sun, people were asked which side of the debate 12 different people, including celebrities, were on. Some of the results are quite worrying: only 59% realised Nick Clegg is on the Yes side, 60% knew that David Cameron is on the No side and 59% didn’t know that Ed Miliband wants a Yes vote.

In this case ignorance could be bliss, as it means the public are not thinking along partisan lines when it comes to AV. Ed Miliband, who said this is ‘not a referendum on Nick Clegg’ should be pleased.

However, perhaps most interesting results involve celebrities.

Of the many to put their name to the AV campaign, only comedian Eddie Izzard appears to have made a notable impact. Even so, only one in four respondents know he’s a Yes campaigner.

Even Colin Firth, Hollywood’s man of the moment, hasn’t caught the public’s attention on AV. 87% didn’t know he is supporting Yes to AV and 94% didn’t know which side David Gower is on (it’s No).

So although celebrities are all-powerful when it comes to influencing consumer behaviour, the referendum shows that’s where their influence ends.

Tags: Alternative Vote (AV) referendum, AV referendum, Colin Firth, David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Eddie Izzard, Nick Clegg