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Author Will Self was branded “snide” in a TV clash after he said every racist in the country voted for Brexit .

Appearing on BBC Politics Live the writer said: “Every racist and anti-Semite probably voted for Brexit”.

The exchange came during a heated confrontation with Leave supporting Tory MP Mark Francois.

Mr Francois, who is vice-chairman of European Research Group demanded the writer apologise.

He said the comments were a “slur on 17.4m people”.

(Image: BBC/Twitter)

Will Self launched the row when he said: “Your problem really, Mark, is not that you have to be a racist or an anti-Semite to vote for Brexit, it’s just that every racist and anti-Semite in the country did."

Mr Francois replied: “I think that’s a snide and outrageous thing to say.”

“Ah well you seem to find a lot of things outrageous, don’t you,” replied Self.

(Image: BBC/Twitter)

“Are you saying that 17.4 million people are… are racists and bigots because they voted to leave the European Union?” asked Francois.

“No, that’s not what I said,” came the reply.

The exchange ended with the pair locked in an awkward and icy stare down.