Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Andrew Neil delivers 'best opening message ever' to 'jihadist losers' about futility of Isis terror attacks

'In a thousand year’s time, Paris, that glorious city of  lights,  will still be shining  bright  as will every other city' 

Heather Saul
Friday 20 November 2015 04:42 EST
Comments
Andrew Neil
Andrew Neil

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Andrew Neil delivered what some declared to be his finest opening monologue to date on the BBC1 show The Week on Thursday in response to the Paris terror attacks.

Neil followed the example set by British satirist John Oliver by highlighting Paris’ unparalleled culture and warning Isis it stands no chance of destroying such an impressive civilisation.

While Oliver opened his monologue on Last Week Tonight by describing the militant terror group as “gigantic f**king assholes”, Neil dismissed the terrorists as “a bunch of loser jihadists [who] slaughtered 132 of innocents in Paris to prove the future belongs to them, rather than a civilisation like France”.

In his rousing message, he listed the artists and theorists who shaped French culture and who continue to overshadow the terror group's savage and regressive beliefs and acts.

“I can’t say I fancy their chances. France. The country of Descartes, Monet, Sartre Rousseau to Camus, Renoir, Berlioz, […] Daft Punk, Zizou Zidane,” he said. “Liberté, égalité, fraternité and crème Brulee.

“Versus what? Beheadings, crucifixions, amputations, slavery, mass murder, medieval squalor and a death cult barbarity that would shame the Middle Ages.”

Neil then addressed militants directly. “I think the outcome is pretty clear to everyone but you,” he said. “You will lose. In a thousand year’s time, Paris, that glorious city of lights, will still be shining bright as will every other city like it. And you will be as dust, along with the ragbag of fascist Nazis and Stalinists that previously dared to challenge democracy and failed.”

LBC presenter Iain Dale praised Neil’s "superb" monologue as proof BBC presenters can be opinionated when they need to be. Journalist Dan Hodges declared Neil’s defiant speech as “one of greatest openings to a British current affairs program of all time”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in