General Election 2015: Jeremy Paxman calls Russell Brand an 'idiot' for his 'no vote' stance and supports compulsory voting

Paxman is 'astonished' that people are taking the comedian's politics seriously

Russell Brand and Jeremy Paxman have very different views on voting in elections (Getty Images)

Jeremy Paxman has launched a scathing attack on Russell Brand’s controversial ‘no vote’ stance.

The British broadcaster, known for his aggressive interviewing style with politicians, encourages everybody to align themselves with a party ahead of the General Election next Thursday.

“I think it really matters. I’ve no sympathy whatsoever with people who say, ‘I don’t vote’,” he told Radio Times, despite admitting eighteen months ago that he did once abstain.

Paxman, 64, is firmly against the view pushed by comedian Brand, who has announced that he “ain’t registered” to vote and encourages people to follow him in protest of what he sees as a flawed democratic system.

“I’m just astonished anyone would take that position seriously. It’s the position of an idiot,” Paxman said.

“On the whole I’m in favour of the state getting out of people’s lives, but I would not have a problem with voting being made compulsory. But if you did that, you’d have to have a box for ‘none of the above’.”

Whether or not to take Paxman seriously is up to you, given that in this same interview he also admitted to watching and loving ITV’s “fantastic” downmarket dating show Take Me Out.