Jeremy Paxman: 'If you didn't vote, you're a moron'

Jeremy Paxman on the Alternative Election Night on Channel 4.

[airdas]

"he'll make it look like a gardening accident, tell him J-Dog sent you" hahaha is that Paxman's underground MC name

[theprez]

Didn't Paxman admit that he didn't bother to vote in the last election?

[thomaspike]

If you were not to vote, at least spoil your ballet paper. Just so we can see the percentage of people who believed that no one was up to the job. It's not that people can't be bothered, it's because people have such a shit choice

[leikfroakies]

The thing is that with FPP there is next to no point in voting unless you live in a marginal constituency. STV would improve the turn out and mean people's votes won't be worth jack shit

[antitroll]

Against my better judgment I read a few of the comments and yup people really don't have a sense of humour these days

[maxrav]

Not voting is a valid protest and is also a right that people fought and died for.
It is your democratic right to reject all of the above, ie the establishment.
If you are 'obliged' to vote for one then that democratic right has been taken away has it not?

[robmoss]

If Paxo scripted this himself, then he's just gone up in my estimation. We need more of this.

[maxmccann]

The truth hurt approximately 121 people

[abdullahahmed]

If elections do change anything, they would have never allowed us to vote. Mark Twain.

[paddynorton-smith]

was this before or after the russel brand interview

[bunney]

SNP got 1.5m votes. 56 seats. LibDems got 2.5m votes. 7 seats. UKIP got 3.5m votes. 1 seat.

[mr.coolmug]

I can't believe Paxman read a telly prompter. How sad. What does he do now?

[jackmclean]

sadly, Paxman is a clever articulate man, who's dry humour is quite funny, but this is clearly not him, I mean does anyone believe this isn't clearly an autocue. this was beneath him

[stooie]

Piece of advice : Nobody likes being patronised by an establishment fop !

[dantaylor]

Paxman reading some other writers bollox from an autocue, how very 'trendy' and original. Glad I never voted, as for 3:52 no it's not but electing a government that will DO what they say they will is very difficult YOU should know Paxman you spent an entire lifetime questioning politicians about their U turns lies and scandals didn't you?

[Heavygusto]

Surely not voting is more like looking at the menu, deciding you're not hungry then being fed chips through a tube? I voted btw xD

[debfowler]

Coventry World of Bollards? Making stuff up now Jeremy.

[carolinesmyth]

Morons? I think you meant conscientious objectors ;p

[karaloca]

Does voting change anything? 3 years ago I voted to leave the EU, I’m still waiting.

[edwardnigma]

The system isn't appealing? Don't talk to us like we're 15 years old, smoking weed in our parents basements thinking Russell Brand is anything more than an utter moron. The system isn't unappealing, it's not a branding issue. It is not a democratic institution in any real sense, popular vote has only a partial effect on the system, and even that can be pretty much predicted by looking to where the money is going. 

The worst part is he surely gets that, read what he said about the 2010 election. I suppose it wasn't necessarily the same message, he just found the parties too "unappealing", which is a far worse reason not to vote than a belief that the system is incapable of reflecting popular will!