Please note this interview was from last year but has been republished in light of Eamonn Holmes quitting Sky News on Thursday.
Eamonn Holmes has said interviewing Jeremy Corbyn on Sky News on Wednesday morning was like "clubbing a seal" - despite the Labour Party leader giving a calm and measured performance in the face of some rather odd questioning.
Appearing via video link from Brighton beach, Corbyn was told he was a "hippy", he "hates the Tories" and that solving the crisis in Syria is the same as managing a football team.
Just watched dismal Eamonn Holmes #Corbyn interview, we really do deserve better political journalism in this country as that was appalling
— Martin O'Neill (@DrNostromo) September 30, 2015
Host Eamonn Holmes started with the sports analogies early.
Referring to Corbyn's speech at the Labour conference on Tuesday and Arsenal's defeat to Olympiacos later that evening, he said: "It was a good day but it wasn't such a good night because I know you're an Arsenal supporter, we'll not really dwell on that."
Holmes then preceded to dwell on it.
10 Completely WTF Eamonn Holmes Moments
He added: "It was all going so well and then that happened last night.
"I was wondering looking at you yesterday, every young lad has a dream maybe of playing in the FA Cup final and scoring the winning goal and looking at you, the love that was in the room - was yesterday your FA Cup Final?"
Corbyn replied: "It was a great day but it wasn't a day I spent my life searching for."
The Sky News presenter then compared Corbyn to a "religious leader" in his approach.
He said: "However, I put it to you - and I know you're into caring and respect but that doesn't happen on TV - but we'll do the next bit..."
At this point Corbyn interrupted to ask: "Why can't it happen on television?"
Corbyn exposing Eamonn Holmes for the muppet he is right now.
— Sophie Halliday (@smhalliday) September 30, 2015
"Well, because people say I'm sucking up to you and I'm being soft and we're giving you an easy time so you know how the game works so we have to sort of change it," said Holmes.
SEE ALSO:
The strange dynamic continued when the host interrupted the Labour leader to put "another nasty question" to him about his speech.
"You can't please all the people all the time," @jeremycorbyn tells @EamonnHolmes after his conference speech https://t.co/GtNDZeLLKl
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 30, 2015
Holmes then accused Corbyn of being a hypocrite by preaching a message of a "new era of politics and respecting people and all the rest" when in fact he must "hate" the Tories.
He said: "You don’t love and respect everybody, Why don’t you just admit you hate the Tories? I mean, you can’t talk about respect and love, you actually hate them."
Then the football analogies returned with Holmes appearing to suggest solving the crisis in Syria is the same as managing a football team.
.@EamonnHolmes asks Labour leader @jeremycorbyn: "Are you happy to lead a dis-united party?" https://t.co/ZUlbi32BD2
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 30, 2015
"Look, let’s talk football. Your man's Arsene Wenger my man’s Alex Ferguson. Do you think they go into a dressing room and they say, listen boys, how are we going to line up tonight, what are we going to do tonight?
"No they don’t. Fergie always said he had to make it clear, there was one boss. That’s not your way of doing things though."
Corbyn said: "My way of doing things - because it’s politics, it’s community, it’s people, it’s Government - is actually not the same as managing a football team."
Holmes then finished of the bizarre encounter by having a go at his tie...
.@jeremycorbyn tells @EamonnHolmes he borrowed his friend's tie. "I hope you'll agree, I looked very smart." https://t.co/dxSWYcwPWj
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 30, 2015
Reaction to the interview was largely negative towards Holmes...
Eamonn Holmes is the augustus gloop of presenting, a sugar addled dessert trolley locust
— Pete Farquhar (@Renegade_Truth) September 30, 2015
Is Eamonn Holmes the greatest example of basic white men who aren't that great at what they do having good high profile jobs?
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) September 30, 2015
Further proof today that Eamonn Holmes is an absolute waste of space on TV and a total and utter idiot.
— charlotte pearson (@mixtapecouture) September 30, 2015
Someone turn off eamonn holmes mic please
— Goppa (@The_Goppa) September 30, 2015
Eamonn Holmes evidently isn't a Corbyn fan. Why's he being an absolute tool?!
— Andy Hunt (@Andy_Hunt357) September 30, 2015
I still can't make out Eamonn Holmes' point. Is this really what British political journalism has come to? https://t.co/DXVpsZ5g3y
— Tom Newton (@tom_newton3) September 30, 2015
Odd interview by Eamonn Holmes. At times feels like Corbyn is having to explain things to a toddler. https://t.co/akSL2FsvvJ
— John Hyde (@JohnHyde1982) September 30, 2015
The Eamonn Holmes interview shows how the mainstream media can't talk policies and facts they talk image, fear and propoganda. #Corbyn
— Jane Watkinson (@JaneWatkinson) September 30, 2015
Eamonn Holmes being absolutely awful at his job... http://t.co/jp4h9RBcZV.
— Matt May (@MattMay89) September 30, 2015
But he did have some supporters...
People calling Eamonn Holmes "nasty". Anybody seen what these same people write about David Cameron?
Shut up you whingey lefties.
— S.J. Coad (@obsoletetruth) September 30, 2015
Well done to Eamonn Holmes for saying the apparently unsayable. Many of those who support the hard left HATE dissenters.
— Matthew Corrigan (@CorriganMJ) September 30, 2015
Seems the Corbyn lynch mob are literally going to attack everyone who questions him. Eamonn Holmes the latest to fall victim to these morons
— Jack Jason (@EnemyWithinn) September 30, 2015
READ MORE