'It sums up Brexit': Emily Maitlis' side-eye during Brexit interview wins Twitter
Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis was doing a round of interviews after Theresa May lost the vote on her Brexit deal, throwing yet more uncertainty into Britain leaving the EU.
And it was when speaking to Labour’s shadow International Trade secretary Barry Gardiner that Ms Maitlis seemed to lose her patience.
After quite a heated discussion, Ms Maitlis said: “The country is desperate for leadership and we know we’re not getting it from the Government and we’re not getting it from Jeremy Corbyn either.
“You’ve got nothing more to offer tonight.”
She then said: “Just answer me this – if there is a general election called next week, which could happen, what will be on your manifesto? What Brexit vision will be on your manifesto.”
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Mr Gardiner replied: “We will decide what our manifesto position is, as we normally do, it’s a democratic party and not made up by one person on Newsnight.”
It was at this point that Ms Maitlis gave one hell of a frustrated eyeroll at the answer – instantly summing up what everyone was feeling:
We are all Emily Maitlis https://t.co/mVdrFvqyGv
— Alice Jones (@alicevjones) March 12, 2019
Beautifully done Emily!!
— Dilton (@diltondiltond1) March 13, 2019
Emily Maitlis is 100% right on #Newsnight. She looks totally exasperated as is the nation. Barry Gardiner and his Labour colleagues have failed the UK on #Brexit as much as the Government. This is a collective failure of Parliament the like of which we have never seen before.
— Haroon Abbasi (@1AbbasiH) March 12, 2019
Emily Maitlis sends Corbynites into apoplectic rage with a wonderful eyeroll that says more than words ever could. Voters have a right to expect more from politicians than insulting brain dead mantras
— Barnaby Spen (@Barnabyspeak) March 13, 2019
pic.twitter.com/RJggGsodYx
Emily Maitlis speaks for the nation.— Anthony Jones (@cardiijolliest) March 13, 2019
However, there were also plenty who accused Ms Maitlis of ‘bias’ with her reaction:
Emily Maitlis providing @ofcom all the real time evidence it needs.
The pressure is mounting at every biased point in @bbcnews and their behaviour is becoming alarming and dysfunctional. https://t.co/uGBY61Lh20
— Gav (@TimeForceCop) March 13, 2019
Incredible anti-Labour bias o #Newsnight.
Barry Gardiner set out, very clearly, Labour’s plan – which has been public for over a year.
Emily Maitlis dismissed it & said Labour was as much to blame for this mess as the Tories.
Pathetic.
— Shahil Parmar (@shahil95) March 12, 2019
#NEWSNIGHT WHY is Emily Maitlis blatantly anti Labour and stopping Barrie Gardiner from speaking? She arrogantly looked at him as if he was an idiot. Utterly biased and disrespectful. I am SICK of biased BBC journalism.
— Keziah Jones (@KeziahJones8) March 12, 2019
Emily Maitlis interview with Barry Gardiner was terrible. Her body language was awful. She was physically agitated – leg moving up and down, body leaning forward, pointing her finger, rolling her eyes, constantly interrupting. It was an excerise in blatant contempt on her part.
— Tony Dexter (@GRUMPYCOTTAGE) March 13, 2019
“Emily Maitlis” Maitliss is not being hailed for expressing the exasperation of the British public, she is being heavily criticised for decidedly unprofessional, downright ignorant behaviour. Sack her now.
— David Morgan (@DavidWestcross) March 13, 2019
MPs are set to vote on whether to block a no-deal Brexit after Mrs May’s humiliating defeat.
Conservative MPs will be given a free vote on Wednesday evening on whether they are willing for the UK to leave the EU without a deal at the end of the month.
They will vote on a motion stating “this House declines to approve leaving the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and a framework on the future relationship on March 29”.
If MPs reject no-deal – as most Westminster observers expect – a third vote will follow on Thursday on whether to authorise Mrs May to request an extension of the two-year Article 50 negotiation process.
