John Lydon seriously doesn’t agree with self-styled revolutionary Russell Brand when it comes to political engagement.

The Sex Pistol, who earlier this week called the Essex-born comedian a “bum hole” for refusing to vote, has taken his denunciation of Brand even further by saying: “It’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.”

Speaking to Polly Toynbee in an interview for the Guardian, he added: “The likes of Russell Brand coming along and saying something so damn ignorant is absolutely spoon-feeding it to them.

“Your individuality, your sense of right. You must not forget 100 years ago, who could vote here? And to have that so easily, so flippantly, ignored, in that lazy arse ‘I take drugs and tell not funny jokes’ way” - though it must be noted that Brand has been clean for over a decade.

“You have to vote, you have to make a change,” he says. “You’re given lousy options, yes, but that's better than nothing at all.”

Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips Show all 19 1 /19 Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On puberty: “By puberty I learned that nothing worth having could be easily attained and to succeed one must be single minded." PA Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On changing the world: “I want to change the world, and do something valuable and beautiful. I want people to remember me before I'm dead, and then more afterwards.” Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On being strong: "Strength does not have to be belligerent and loud." Getty Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On grammar: “I couldn't possibly have sex with someone with such a slender grasp on grammar!” Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On manners in England: "In England we have such good manners that if someone says something impolite, the police will get involved." Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On junkie v vegetarian: “Even as a junkie I stayed true [to vegetarianism] - 'I shall have heroin, but I shan't have a hamburger.' What a sexy little paradox.” Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On the future: “People don't realize that the future is just now, but later.” Rex Features Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On sex addiction: “Boggle with sex addicts is up there with go-kart racing with junkies.” Reuters Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On life: “My life is just a series of embarrassing incidents strung together by telling people about those embarrassing incidents.” Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On happiness: "If you want to be happy stop being so self-obsessed and start considering other people." Getty Images Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On drug addiction: “The mentality and behavior of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.” Getty Images Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On sitcoms: "I do have a regard for the musicality of language that came from BBC sitcoms like Fawlty Towers." Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On life motivation: "That's what keeps me alive, perversion and star quality.” Getty Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On love: “When you fall in love you recognise you're not the most important person in the world, and your focus becomes another person.” Getty Images Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On threesomes: “I like threesomes with two women, not because I'm a cynical sexual predator. Oh no! But because I'm a romantic. I'm looking for "The One." And I'll find her more quickly if I audition two at a time.” Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On Conservatives: "Conservatism appeals to our selfishness and fear, our designer and self-interest." PA Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On surfing: “Surfing should be called "foam-choking" or "sea stabbing.” Getty Images Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On Demi Moore: "I've not made love to her yet, but it's a matter of time." STEVE MORGAN/AFP/Getty Images Russell Brand's Most Controversial Quips On success: "When I was growing up, I thought I'd be a lot happier if I was famous and successful and if I had money." Getty Images

Lydon, who once sang, ‘I am an anarchist’ as an enraged 20-year-old, said he thinks anarchy “was a mind game for the middle classes, really… impractical” and added that a revolution, as proposed by Brand, would result in indolence and laziness.

“What he’s preaching there is a lifestyle of cardboard boxes down by the river. He’ll make you all homeless,” he said. Adding: “He’s preaching all this from the mansion. Lovely innit.”

Lydon is currently riding the wave of the promotion circuit as his book Anger is an Energy: My Life Uncensored gets its release.

Russell Brand at an anti-austerity march in June (Getty)

In true Johnny Rotten style, he grimaces and vocalises in no uncertain terms exactly how he feels and definitely does not mince his words.

He looked noticeably riled by the notion of young people failing to go out and vote and said it is “not very smart at all” and that “you’re just demanding that you be ignored”.

“Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher – they did not break down the class system and make this country all equal. Quite the opposite. They just put it all under cover.”

He also said that he had never voted Conservative and never would, showing equal disdain at the emergence of Ukip, whom he called “morons”.

Taking the lead from Toynbee, he said that yes, older working class men feel disenfranchised but that groups like Ukip “will manipulate them”.

His advice to the working class? Read as much as you can and “find out who’s using you”.