Watch the moment Will Self delivers a death stare to Brexiteer MP Mark Francois

The pair started a row on BBC Politics Live after snowflake Brexiteer Francois took offence to something that someone with an opposing view said – something he appears to routinely do in television appearances.

During the heated debate, Self said that he believed every racist and anti-Semite in the country ‘probably voted for Brexit’, to which Francois demanded an apology.

A bemused Self asked: ‘To who? Racists and anti-Semites?’

Francois then either misunderstood or tried to twist Self’s words to claim that the author had tried to slur every Leave voter as a ‘bigot’ to which the presenter Jo Coburn pointed out that was not what was said.

He then asked: ‘You were in every polling station looking over everybody’s shoulder when they voted?’

The Tory MP continued to get worked up about Self’s comments – much like he did about Airbus’ letter about a no-deal Brexit and in regular appearances on the news channels.

It prompted Self to calmly stare him out, delivering a terrifying death stare as presenter Jo Coburn tried to bring some normality to the panel.

Rob Burley, editor of the BBC’s live political programmes, said: ‘I’ve worked in telly for 23 years and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.’

Twitter was full of commentary about the argument.

One said: ‘Will Self says that every racist voted Brexit, Brexit voters then take to the internet to say they’re disgusted (even though a quick look through their timeline shows they are actually racists). It’s all so confusing.’

Another said: ‘In a world of Mark Francoises, be a Will Self.’

Comedian David Schneider tweeted: ‘Find someone who looks at you the way Will Self looks at Mark Francois. And then report him to the police because that look can kill.’

Francois has form for demanding apologies – he asked for one after Sky News presenter Adam Boulton asked if he was ‘insane’ for supporting a no-deal Brexit.