This LBC call about Keir Starmer’s debate tactics was completely overshadowed by the size of James O’Brien’s mug
If you saw the leaders’ debate, you’ll have heard Rishi Sunak repeatedly insist that a study by independent Treasury officials has found that Labour’s plans would cost everyone £2,000, while Keir Starmer appeared slow to deny the claims.
A letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, James Bowler, then revealed that the Conservatives had been warned not to claim that the figures were provided by his staff, because they went beyond what the Treasury had determined.
EXCLUSIVE
The chief Treasury civil servant wrote to Labour two days ago saying that the £38 billion/£2,000 tax attack “should not be presented as having been produced by the civil service”
He said he had reminded ministers of this pic.twitter.com/s00XBfbvAj
— Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) June 5, 2024
On James O’Brien‘s LBC show, he spoke to a retired lawyer who suspected Starmer’s performance in the debate had been a deliberate ploy to allow Sunak to repeat the lie, so he would be in hot water once the letter was made public.
Here’s how that call went.
'It's a lawyerly tactic James, we all do it…'
'He effectively let Rishi Sunak hang himself with it.'Caller Philo, a retired lawyer, explains to @mrjamesob the motivation behind Keir Starmer's reaction to the PM's '£2000 tax attack'. pic.twitter.com/8rbs8ZJY3J
— LBC (@LBC) June 5, 2024
There were mixed reactions to the caller’s suggestion.
I don't think so.. I think the format caught him out, he said
"I want to talk about this, will we go back to it?"
"Yes"
He then realized he wasn't getting the time to explain it, twigged on and just started saying "It's garbage"
It was just a shocking set up, really terrible.— Oppenstarmer #VoteLabour4thJuly (@Oppenstarmer) June 5, 2024
This is absolutely fascinating.
Starmer basically let Rish Sunaker himself deliberately. https://t.co/16J9wJ8jQ2
— Otto English (@Otto_English) June 5, 2024
When your enemy is making a mistake don't interrupt them.
Napoleon Bonaparte. pic.twitter.com/NPguic8CH6
— Peter Green (@pagreen1966) June 5, 2024
But there was one thing everyone agreed on …James O’Brien’s mug is enooooormous.
nothing will prepare you for how big the coffee mug at the end of this clip is https://t.co/4iExuTof7Q
— Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) June 5, 2024
Here are some favourite reactions.
1.
even your tweet didn’t prepare me for it. anti-espresso radio
— Sophia Smith Galer (@sophiasgaler) June 5, 2024
2.
seriously, brace yourselves. https://t.co/i34gTQBENe
— Sarah Phelps (@PhelpsieSarah) June 5, 2024
3.
Was that a really big coffee cup, or is @mrjamesob just a lot smaller than he looks? https://t.co/jJaRLzkNru
— Billy (@BrahVoh_DellTah) June 5, 2024
4.
Sports Direct is going to file a cease and desist when he sees the mug at the end of the video. https://t.co/OJHolpgR85
— Nika Mironova (@SectorWriter) June 5, 2024
5.
I expected it to be huge and I still laughed out loud at the size of it. Ridiculous https://t.co/gWbbez8RSs
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) June 5, 2024
6.
There must be some law of physics that describes how there is literally no way to be prepared for this. As much as your brain has pictured that mug at that size, you can't comprehend it until it's next to someone's face. https://t.co/pVmoa5GYV3
— Mike (@wombat_combat) June 5, 2024
7.
How far away is he? https://t.co/XodjGUBUMe pic.twitter.com/PJeBkzMUGh
— Lewis Royden (@lewisroyden) June 5, 2024
8.
My wife looked at it like that scene in Full Monty when Horse drops his trousers! https://t.co/TtJTVqC0Hi pic.twitter.com/doFpF1V881
— Simon (@simonrockett) June 5, 2024
9.
I was expecting the classic sports direct mug but what he pulled out was so much better https://t.co/uNKRfh3dua pic.twitter.com/9W9wgfhJ5J
— barbie yaga (@wa_livi) June 5, 2024
10.
The video let us get comfortable and then BOSH out comes the coffee mug
— dan (@DanPMonocle) June 5, 2024
11.
I always see tweets like this and think “there’s no way it’s that bad” but this is genuinely the most insane piece of crockery I have ever witnessed https://t.co/3pehA2My6F
— soap crisis (full moon version) (@runwayinchicago) June 5, 2024
12.
We're gonna need a bigger cup pic.twitter.com/ttzLELOIkc
— Craig (@CraigF1998) June 5, 2024
13.
Typical of the metropolitan liberal elite, repurposing our honest British Sports Direct mugs with their woke branding https://t.co/6scL9icTSP
— The Exploding Heads (@Exploding_Heads) June 6, 2024
It’s not Mr O’Brien’s first rodeo.
I realise this is not why James O'Brien's LBC show is in the news but… the mug. The. Giant. Turquoise. Mug. pic.twitter.com/r6lC7cmbNc
— Andrew Male (@Andr6wMale) November 30, 2021
Perhaps Operation Supermug is already ongoing.
If this isn’t the beginning of a silent but knowing series of ever growing mugs appearing on your show, then I fear you’ve missed a chance for something wonderful. I should think a man who can get jingles on a whim, can get mugs of exponential growth just as easily! Over to you.
— Simon (@Srkmay_) June 5, 2024
Maybe not.
I don’t think I could comfortably manoeuvre a bigger one!
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) June 5, 2024
Let’s test that. Somebody bring him a bucket.
READ MORE
Ian Wright’s enormous coat has become a hilarious meme – 15 that hit the back of the net
Source LBC H/T Matthew Champion Image Screengrab
