James O'Brien Nails Why Leavers Now Want A No-Deal Brexit

23 July 2018, 10:53 | Updated: 28 August 2019, 07:34

James O'Brien explained why Leave voters are now so keen on a no-deal Brexit - it is the only way they can avoid having to give detail on how Brexit will look.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab spoke of leaving the EU without a deal, while Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson have both been talking up the UK's prospect if no deal can be reached.

James said he knows why they have moved to this position - so they don't have to write anything down.

Speaking on his LBC show, he said: "The reason why it's gone so nuts in the last few days since Chequers is because they had to write it down.

"I appreciate if you're still waiting for your unicorn to arrive you might not like this, but as soon as the plan is written down, it falls apart. This is, I think, beyond the realms of opinion and in the realms of observable fact.

James O'Brien in the LBC studio
James O'Brien in the LBC studio. Picture: LBC

"As soon as they write down the plan, whatever the plan is, it will fall apart, because so many people will be unhappy with the plan and the reason why so many people will be unhappy with the plan is that so many contradictory promises were made during the campaign.

"And it won't really fall apart under the scrutiny of Remainer opinion. It will fall apart under the scrutiny of Leavers, because there's no way any plan can keep even a fraction of the various contradictory promises that the various contradictory leavers made.

"You look at your Rees-Moggs and your Boris Johnsons now, why do they seem to be agitating towards no deal? Because the only way you can continue to refuse to write down the plan - and you will refuse to write down the plan because you know that when you do write down the plan everything falls apart - is to march under the banner of No Deal."

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform

'They've alienated every single subsection of society'

Caller Phil ruthlessly describes a Labour Party that 'doesn't appeal to anyone'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien and listeners with her analysis of the 'new world order'

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her analysis of the 'new world order'

Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

LBC callers: Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

20,000 Brits die each year because of ultra-processed food

LBC callers give their reaction to findings that 20,000 Brits die each year because of ultra-processed food

LBC caller in Lviv explains how Ukrainians feel betrayed by America

LBC caller in Lviv explains how Ukrainians feel 'betrayed' by America

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her take on the state of the West

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her take on the state of the West

James O'Brien

Caller John: 'The best way to understand Trump tariffs is Red Dwarf'

James O'Brien

James O'Brien challenges caller to provide evidence of Israeli accountability

James O'Brien

LBC callers share landlord horror stories

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible.

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible