Johnny Mercer is blasted for calling writer James Delingpole a ‘selfish c**t’ in foul-mouthed rant about wearing face masks on trains
- Writer James Delingpole criticised public for wearing face masks on trains
- In a post on twitter the Breitbart writer remarked ‘How did we win Waterloo?’
- Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer then hit back calling him a ‘selfish c***’
- Delingpole has engaged in climate change denial and campaign
Tory MP Johnny Mercer has been criticised for using the C-word in a foul-mouthed exchange about Covid-19 masks.
The Veterans Minister hit back at writer James Delingpole after he criticised commuters on his train for wearing face-coverings.
But others – including comedian Dom Joly – praised Mr Mercer for blasting the journalist, 65, despite his colourful language.
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer hit back at writer James Delingpole after he criticised commuters on his train for wearing face-coverings
Mr Delingpole – who is opposed to mandatory wearing of masks during the pandemic – tweeted: ‘Everyone on the train in a mask. Everyone.
‘How did we win Waterloo?’
Former Army officer Mr Mercer, MP for Plymouth, Devon – replied: ‘Without people like you.
‘Stop being a selfish c**t, and put on a mask.’
Paul Stonehous replied: ‘You have let your party and yourself down by resorting to this type of language.’
Another added: ‘You don’t have to use the word to be one.’
Standup comic Lee Hurst joked: ‘Hi Johnny. I’m a selfish c**t too.’
But Mr Mercer was backed by Dom Joly who said: ‘Bravo.’
Delingpole is known for his controversial views on several topics, including climate change denial and campaigning against wind farms.
He is currently the executive editor of alt-right news site Breitbart London, a UK-focused version of Breitbart News in the US, which has been involved in several conspiracy theories and became a rallying spot for Donald Trump supporters in 2016.
Describing coronavirus as an ‘alleged crisis’ in a recent interview, Delingpole said: ‘The British people are more scared of coronavirus than any other nation on Earth.’
He added that ‘no sane or informed person’ would wear a mask in a supermarket, and would ‘totally’ encourage his children to break laws relating to the pandemic because ‘I don’t want my children growing up to be the compliant gimps of a fascist state’.
Delingpole is known for his controversial views on several topics, including climate change denial and campaigning against wind farms
Others reacting to the twitter exchange mocked Mr Delingpole for his lack of history knowledge.
Ian Harris said: ‘My history of the battle of Waterloo is rusty, but I’m fairly sure it wasn’t an airborne contagious virus.
‘However, they did wear armour to protect themselves from artillery.’
Chris Parker said: ‘Mostly by the Prussians turning up in the nick of time, from memory.
‘A cavalry charge isn’t going to do much against Covid-19, sadly.
‘Just wear a mask, the sooner we stop the spread of the virus, the sooner we won’t have to wear the damn things.’
Peter Mitchell added: ‘S**t take. Disease prevention is crucial for the military.
‘Always has been. So, the napoleonic wars you mention.
‘Limes prevented scurvy in the Royal Navy.
‘Gave them an edge due to more fit men. Disease prevention helped win the wars concluded at Waterloo.’