James O’Brien went toe-to-toe with Piers Morgan over his Brexit takedown and it’s riveting stuff
James O’Brien and Piers Morgan have one thing in common – they are both lively presences on Twitter – and one thing very much not in common – their attitude to Brexit.
So it was an intriguing exchange today when the two went head to head over Brexit after Morgan said this about a ‘no deal’ exit for the UK from the EU.
No Deal is actually Brexit.
People voted to leave the EU, not to stay in bits of it.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 31, 2019
It was followed by a rather wonderful deconstruction of Morgan’s tweet by this political analyst, which you can read all about here.
Hello Mr Morgan,
I’ve just seen this tweet. I don’t know if you were out of the country at the time, but let me respectfully explain why this isn’t a fair reflection of what the referendum was about, and therefore what people "voted for"…. https://t.co/iWaUaJmJ61
— Steve Analyst (@EmporersNewC) April 3, 2019
It was shared on Twitter by the LBC presenter …
This thread is a poignant illustration of the Brexit debacle. Pithy but meaningless soundbite meets avalanche of evidence-based explanation. Every time a fatuous slogan falls apart – ‘Brexit means Brexit’; ‘Take back control’; ‘No deal better than bad deal’ – another one pops up. https://t.co/TMWAiVIOYs
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
… prompting this response from the Good Morning Britain man and, well, it rather escalated from there (with a few noises off for good measure).
1.
Hi James, 44% of the British public currently want No Deal.
Are they all STILL too stupid to know what they want?
And if so, is there some way we can transport some of your uniquely massive brain to help them work it out? https://t.co/ub2Hx9J0tA— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
2.
Everything you need is in the thread. That was my point. You know this.
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
3.
Clever dick Remoaners like @EmporersNewC & @mrjamesob know this, but their desperation to reverse Brexit knows no bounds. They genuinely believe we're all just too stoopid to understand. https://t.co/grXeb3r1G2
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
4.
Sticks & stones, mate. We’re on the same side here. I’m pointing out that some people prefer name-calling and hollow slogans to thinking & understanding.
You’re proving it.— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
5.
‘Clever dick’ was a compliment. You’re clever.. and a bit of a dick.
Yes, we’re on the same side, except I want to honour the result of the Referendum. If Remain had won in 2016, and Brexiters were still trying to reverse it, you’d be screaming blue murder at them. https://t.co/SQdA0Ng6yi— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
6.
This isn’t the first time you’ve tried to tell me what I think and how I’d behave in theoretical circumstances. It’s very odd. @EmporersNewC explains everything you – and, more importantly, people who trust you – need to have a properly informed position. You should address it.
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
7.
Sorry, have I misunderstood your position?
Do you want Brexit to happen then, and for the Referendum result to be honoured? Could have sworn you’ve spent the past 3yrs saying the complete opposite, but happy to be corrected. https://t.co/jIstqdI9zj— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
8.
Why are you bringing Remain vs Leave into this Piers? That wasn’t what my thread was about.
— Steve Analyst (@EmporersNewC) April 4, 2019
9.
Again, the thread by @EmporersNewC will make it crystal clear to you why you’re not making the point you think you are. You really should address it.
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
10.
Why are you avoiding my question? https://t.co/H7KQHTHS4e
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
11.
Because it’s based on the myriad misunderstandings already detailed in @EmporersNewC‘s excellent thread. Again, you really should address it. And again, you already know this.
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
12.
Right, but I know all the politicians lied and misled us, from all parties. What I am curious about is whether you believe Brexit should happen & we should honour the result of the democratic referendum. Do you? https://t.co/lX3N9umUHJ
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
13.
Read @EmporersNewC ‘s thread, Piers. Please. This isn’t about point-scoring and name-calling on Twitter. It’s about understanding why the impossibility of defining ‘Brexit’ in any meaningful way led us into this mess – and why continuing to pretend otherwise will only prolong it.
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
14.
Why can’t you answer me, seriously? Weird for such a straight talker to dodge such a simple question? https://t.co/jtOQww7UB7
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
15.
I literally spoke at the People’s Vote rally and I think you’re accusing me here of not revealing whether I want another referendum? I would, very sincerely, be fascinated to see your considered response to @EmporersNewC‘s thread.
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
16.
Piers has taken something which initially was about his understanding of the Brexit Bill and, knowing he doesn’t understand it, has made it about you.
— Adam (@adwhiskey) April 4, 2019
17.
I fear this is true. I'd be interested to know whether people think I wasted my time with @piersmorgan this morning? https://t.co/hRd5IjEcz3
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
18.
Not at all, mate.
Always a pleasure jousting with you, and I remain a big fan of your broadcasting.
But fascinated why you still won't answer my question? https://t.co/DwMMcDiu3q— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
19.
If your question is in good faith, then obviously I don't think the result of a referendum built on lies, law-breaking and epic media misrepresentation can or should ever be 'honoured'. The Sun, for example, was punting this *after* the referendum. That's why we need another one. pic.twitter.com/Q1DHSaiA6a
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) April 4, 2019
And then this chap got involved.
This is very good, but its point is being lost, IMHO, in people crowing around it as a takedown of @PiersMorgan. That's what gets the noise, but the thread is full of detailed worth-thinking-about complexities around Brexit, and the hunger for it just to be a WIN defocuses that. https://t.co/q1Ja56meNb
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) April 4, 2019
Also, I agree with him, which slightly dilutes the lazy ‘Morgan OWNED’ narrative. My point’s simply that when people voted in the Referendum, I believe most assumed Leave meant Leave, not partly remaining which is the way we’re now heading. So ‘No Deal’ is a more honest Brexit. https://t.co/gcMblpIQWG
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
Perhaps. My point is simply that this whole fucking mess is created by people, on all sides, for whom it’s less about what’s best for the country and more about who wins and who loses: who, in the end, gets the stupid right to crow.
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) April 4, 2019
On this, I am in 100% agreement.
Our politicians, collectively, have been an absolute disgrace from start to finish on Brexit. https://t.co/VVywpTA2MJ— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2019
You’re going to miss Brexit when it’s gone, right? Wrong. Because it will never be gone.
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This takedown of Piers Morgan over Brexit went viral because it’s just so brilliantly done