Andrew Marr clashes with Labour's Shami Chakrabarti in tense Brexit exchange: 'Don't patronise me!'

James Morris18 November 2018
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Andrew Marr lost his cool with a senior Labour politician telling her "don't patronise me" after she suggested he was not a democrat.

The BBC politics presenter was quizzing shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti about Labour’s Brexit policy when the tense exchange broke out.

Mr Marr questioned Baroness Chakrabarti on why she supported plans to seek a general election on a pro-Brexit manifesto, despite voting to Remain in 2016.

“I can’t understand why you want to leave the EU,” Mr Marr said.

Andrew Marr had an awkward exchange with Labour shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti
BBC/PA

Ms Chakrabarti protested: “I don’t want to leave the EU, I campaigned to Remain.

“I’m a democrat. I don’t know about you, Andrew, but I’m a democrat.”

Mr Marr, visibly annoyed, shot back: “Don’t try and patronise me, I’m as much a democrat as you are.”

Ms Chakrabarti, taken aback by Mr Marr’s attack, stuttered before saying: “I certainly wouldn’t try to patronise you and I’m sure you would never try and patronise me.”

It capped a busy morning of TV interviews with political heavyweights. On the same show, former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab claimed he would support Prime Minister Theresa May in a leadership ballot - despite renewing his attack on her "fatally flawed" Brexit plan.

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