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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics

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

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

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.

Ms May herself appeared on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday to defend her Brexit deal, and warned rebel backbenchers that a change in leadership would risk delaying the divorce.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also appeared on the same show, saying a second referendum on Brexit "is an option for the future" but "not an option for today".

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