Owen Jones branded Liz Truss “weird” for storming off after a sign was projected above her head accusing her of crashing the economy.

Fans of the Jeremy Vine show reacted furiously after they heard Owen Jones’ reaction to Liz Truss being “publicly humiliated”.

Their rage led them to threatening to switch off, as the issue extended into an online debate.

Owen insisted that she reacted in the “worst possible way” to something he felt was a light-hearted joke – but not everyone agreed.

Former Tory PM Liz Truss survived just 45 days as leader before being dramatically ousted by her own party in a humiliating shake-up.

It now looks as if she has been made a figure of fun again – but this time by political campaign group Led By Donkeys.

When she appeared at an event in Suffolk this week to promote her latest book, a remote controlled banner appeared behind her reading: “I crashed the economy.”

There was also a picture of a lettuce above the slogan, poking fun at the time the Daily Star newspaper launched a live-stream of the vegetable to see whether or not her battle to remain in No. 10 would last longer than a Tesco iceberg lettuce.

Liz simply stared at the banner for an uncomfortably long time, before muttering: “That isn’t funny” and walking out – and now Owen has had his say on the matter.

He clearly hadn’t forgiven and forgotten over her economy decisions, blasting: “If she’s going to inflict pain on people’s lives, she should expect [the same to happen to her].”

When co-star Esther Krakue admitted: “I feel a bit sorry for her”, Owen quizzed incredulously: “Do you?”

Esther argued the campaign group had “humiliated a grown woman when she wasn’t expecting it” and that there should be “certain standards of contact and public decency”.

However, Owen hit back: “I don’t understand her response – it was just weird. I’m sorry to say this, but that is odd.

“You just style it out, laugh about it, turn it into a joke. She did the worst possible thing there.”

He continued: “If she’d made a joke about it, people might have actually respected it, but the fact is she’s a public political figure. She crashed the economy. She imposed the costs that people still suffer the consequences of and she’s carrying on a political role now.”

He pointed out that she had been expressing her support for USA Republican candidate Donald Trump, who is running for president again this year, at the time the stunt took place.

One viewer groaned on Twitter: “Owen Jones and Matt Allwright on one programme. Time to switch over. #jeremyvine.”

Another swiped: “Owen isn’t the best one to give advice about reacting to a joke or criticism.”

A third vowed to “switch off” after seeing a subsequent segment on the show where Owen had debated what made a woman a woman.

However, another viewer contradicted: “She takes herself far too seriously.”

Someone else also sided with Owen, insisting: “Void of humour. Worst reaction is to storm off.”

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that a man was arrested and released without charge after the campaign group took responsibility for what had happened.