Julia Hartley-Brewer’s attempt to put down a reply backfired spectacularly
As the UK haemorrhages jobs, it was dealt another blow with the news that Honda’s Swindon plant is to close in 2021. The company cited various reasons, including global economic markets and the necessity to create more electric vehicles, but interpreters couldn’t help but suspect the B-word might have had some influence – and I don’t mean ‘bikes’.
Right-wing columnist, Julia Hartley-Brewer weighed in with her definitive pronouncements that Brexit had nothing to do with it – presumably based on her extensive experience of the UK car industry, including making this statement.
Oh look. Why Honda is set to shut its Swindon factory – written by people who actually *know* about the car industry. Spoiler alert: they make diesel cars at that factory & no one wants to buy them anymore. https://t.co/KT6QQbTHtx
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) February 18, 2019
It wasn’t the clincher she might have hoped, as people pointed out.
Literally the first line of the second paragraph reads:
"Is Brexit uncertainty a factor? Almost certainly."
But Julia Hartley Brewer obviously hasn't read that far. https://t.co/9ChZ0b4KQL
— Otto English (@Otto_English) February 19, 2019
#Honda famously one of the last mainstream brands to even bother putting a diesel engine in a car and still one of the smallest producers of diesel vehicles are closing a plant that makes 95% petrol cars due to people not buying diesel cars. OK Julia. https://t.co/EALqerOOxz
— @EliteBastard (@MikeABeevers) February 19, 2019
Among many others, she got this clear reply.
Actually their biggest seller is the civic and only 12% have diesel engines so shh you have no idea
— Dany Dougherty (@safcnono) February 18, 2019
Never a fan of being corrected, she attempted to swat him away.
Read the article. The author may know more than you.
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) February 18, 2019
But Dany had an answer for her – and it was a zinger.
“I sincerely doubt it as I worked there and know the exact numbers of exports in EMEA and other markets.”
But …but, she read the article – paragraph one, anyway.
Writer Otto English captured the moment and shared it for posterity.
Burn of the day. You may wish to put on protective clothing first pic.twitter.com/FAYCDUdy1H
— Otto English (@Otto_English) February 19, 2019
People loved seeing her bluster come to nothing.
Sometimes she makes it so easy
— Esher & Walton for EU (@EsherWalton4EU) February 19, 2019
Wow. You can surely see that from space.
— # (@DoomlordVek) February 19, 2019
Ouch! Serious burn! @JuliaHB1 excusing herself from the @talkRADIO office after reading that tweet… pic.twitter.com/EdmJSITbKN
— Sean Callaghan (@keanespirit) February 19, 2019
Twitter user @Geds2112 came to a conclusion:
It's almost as if she doesn't know what she's talking about.
— Steve's Deep State Ferry Services ⛴ (@Geds2112) February 19, 2019
