The Conversation (0)
Conservative MP Mark Francois and author Will Self were locked in a heated and altogether bizarre argument about Brexit that culminated in an excruciatingly long stare off.
Appearing on BBC's Politics Live, Francios was furious after Mr Self suggested:
It's got a lot to do with Brexit. Well, because since 2016 your problem really, Mark is not that you have to be a racist or an anti-semite to vote for Brexit.
It's just that every racist and anti-semite in the country did.
Mark not really understanding what Self meant or just choosing not listening, seems to quickly jump to the defence of racists and anti-semites:
I think that’s a slur on 17.4 million people and I think you should apologise on national television.
I think that's an outrageous thing to say.
Are you saying that 17.4 million people are… are racists and bigots because they voted to leave the European Union?
Missing the point entirely of what Mr Self said, he calmly clarified.
No, that’s not what I said.
Not only did Francois not understand what he said, but he assumed what he thought he said and then subsequently got needlessly angry about this made-up scenario he put himself in. Earlier this year, the Tory Brexiteer also faced criticism for using 'xenophobic' language during a different interview with the BBC.
The two continued to talk over one another until the host drew attention away from it.
During this, Self and Francois engaged in an extremely long and formidable stare off with each other, which lasts nearly 15 seconds.
For those who are confused, one Twitter user has an easier way of understanding it:
Unless it's still not painfully obvious, this handy diagram will also help clear things up as to what Will Self was saying:
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