Tory Brexiteer Mark Francois has claimed that the 'country will explode' if the UK doesn't leave the EU on October 31st.
Speaking on BBC Politics Live alongside left-wing journalist and activist Ash Sakar, the Leave MP and deputy chairman of the ERG said:
As a principle you should comply with the law, but as I understand it people are looking extremely carefully at the act to see what it does or does not mandate you to do.
In response, presenter Jo Cockburn commented that the move at least forces the prime minister to request an extension to Article 50. But Francios was unimpressed, responding:
I think if we don't leave on 31st of October, this country will explode.
Boom. Well, that's quite a statement.
Obviously bemused, Sakar took a moment, then responded:
I don't think the country will explode, I don't think that's the case.
I think there will be a lot of justified anger, and there is a lot of justified anger on the part of Leave voters, but I think that Brexit is heading in the way it was always going to, which is back in the hands of the electorate.
Christopher Hope of the Daily Telegraph then interjected:
In a referendum or an election?
Sakar then said:
Or perhaps a combination of both.
Francois continued:
And now the Lib Dems have ruled out the possibility of the two!
He then added:
This was the decision that the British people were allowed to take, they voted Leave and people like you will never, ever accept it!
She then pointed out:
The electorate elected a hung parliament in 2017, which is a mandate for compromise
It goes without saying that people on social media found the whole thing pretty hilarious.
big day for People Having To Listen To Mark Francois https://t.co/99mMSqa6lX— Marie Le Conte (@Marie Le Conte) 1568726508
“If we don’t leave on the 31st of October, this country will explode” - Mark Francois “and so will I’ he added! 😂😂😂… https://t.co/w67wPcZO6U— Simon Gosden. Esq. #fbpe 3.5% 🕷🇪🇺🇬🇧🏴☠️🦠💙 (@Simon Gosden. Esq. #fbpe 3.5% 🕷🇪🇺🇬🇧🏴☠️🦠💙) 1568722435
"If we don't leave by 31 October, this country will explode" Mark Francois tells #politicslive @AyoCaesar's respons… https://t.co/zK1jPn85wk— Asa Bennett (@Asa Bennett) 1568723613
Mark Francois: "If we don't leave on 31 October, this country is going to explode". 💥 https://t.co/8Rj0uwIp38— Derek Murray (@Derek Murray) 1568729437
"if we don't leave on 31st October, this country will explode" Mark Francois has just imparted some horrendous, im… https://t.co/FbEQ4UUttz— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻) 1568723807
HT New European
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