Controversial comic Russell Brand clashed with Ukip leader Nigel Farage as they came head-to-head on BBC’s Question Time last night.
During the week, Farage sparked controversy by blaming open door immigration as the reason to why he missed a meeting with a group of Ukip supporters, inciting Brand to label him ‘a pound-shop Enoch Powell’.
With last night’s show being referred to as being like a ‘Punch and Judy’ show, MM took to the streets to find out who Mancunians believed fared better between the comedian and politician.
| Russell Brand | 79% |
| Nigel Farage | 21% |
It seemed that Russell Brand has a strong support group in Manchester with the majority of people saying he won the argument.
Mary Bowen, a 42-year-old part-time pub worker from Salford, thought that Brand fared better than his counterpart.
“I only watched a bit of Question Time last night but from what I saw I would support Russell Brand,” she said.
“There is something I just don’t trust about Nigel Farage. Russell Brand definitely won me over.”
Big Russell Brand fans, 19-year-old students Becky Small and Sarah Harrison from the city centre agreed that he won the heated debate with the politician.
Becky said: “I absolutely love Russell Brand, I think what he is doing is great and is drawing more attention to politics and drawing in those who are usually not as interested in it as others.”
Sarah said: “I think he definitely brings new light to politics and he did have quite a few strong arguments.”
Ukip supporter Mark Hull disagreed and fully backed the politician in his argument.
The 27-year-old from the city centre said: “Farage definitely won last night, there is no question about it.”
“Russell Brand couldn’t even string a sentence together at times and even insisted that he didn’t want to become a politician. I don’t understand why he was there to be honest.”
Retired accountant, 72-year old William Jones, who is soon moving back to his home town of Mold in Wales said: “I know that we should support politics but to be completely honest with you I have lost interest in it all.
“I think it is all just a way to for politicians to gain an ego boost. I don’t think either of them really won, personally I think the journalist talked the most sense.
“If I had to choose, I think I would rather put my faith and trust in Russell Brand than Farage.”
Charlie Sands a 20-year-old English student from Stockport, said: “I agree with what was said last night about politics being like a Punch and Judy show.
“Farage seems to blame immigration for a lot of things but he didn’t seem to admit to anything and just made sly digs to Russell Brand and other politicians.”
Lilly Moore, a 23-year-old from Rochdale, who works in PR, said: “Russell Brand definitely brings a bit of excitement to politics. It can sometimes be so dull and with him in it I am more interested in what is going on.”
Sophie Pool a 22-year-old shop worker from Rochdale, said: “I’m not really in to politics to be honest but when I heard that Russell Brand was on Question Time I had to watch it.
“I think he had a lot of support from the audience in his answers. Things got quite heated at times but I think that Farage lost this one.”
Andrew Wilde a 29-year-old from Bury who works in marketing, said: “I don’t understand why so many people are against Farage, he’s a good politician. He may not go about some things in the best way but he has a point about immigration getting out of hand.”
Isaac West a 23-year-old a bar tender from Tameside, said: “Things got pretty intense at times, even the audience were more involved than usual. I know Brand isn’t a politician but I don’t think Farage is popular at all especially with all he has said recently.”
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
