Jon Snow branded a Channel 4 News panellist 'a b***end' after being reprimanded on live TV for an alleged four-letter attack on the Tories, the guest claims.

The presenter was left lost for words last night when a right-wing think-tank's spokesman quipped 'not everyone hates the Tories as much as you do.'

It was in relation to claims that Mr Snow joined in a chant of 'F*** The Tories' while attending Glastonbury music festival at the weekend.

While Mr Snow has said he has 'no recollection' of the Glastonbury incident, he was nonetheless taken to task live on air by Matt Kilcoyne of the Adam Smith Institute.

His embarrassment came at the end of an item on the Channel 4 news, where the question was posed: 'Is there the political will to take on inequality?'

Jon Snow was lost for words last night after he was reprimanded on live TV for an alleged four-letter attack on the Conservatives

The Channel 4 news presenter apparently joined in a chant of 'F*** The Tories' while attending Glastonbury music festival

Matt Kilcoyne (pictured left) of the right-wing Adam Smith Institute told the presenter: 'But not everyone hates the Tories as much as you do'

Three panel members gave views for and against the success of austerity before Mr Snow brought the discussion to a close.

He said: 'We certainly haven't resolved the problem here. But we certainly aired it.'

But before he could move on to the next item, Mr Snow was interrupted by Mr Kilcoyne.

He told the presenter: 'But not everyone hates the Tories as much as you do.'

Although he was off-screen at the time, Mr Snow's surprise was all too evident.

He retorted: 'Um, er, you can say that but that is actually a very unpleasant thing to have done.'

Mr Kilcoyne said today his comment had been meant as a 'joke'.

He told MailOnline: 'Jon was instantly riled. As soon as we were off camera he turned and said to me: "Well thanks a bunch, you complete b***end, that was totally unprofessional".

'The producer rushed over and grabbed my lapel mic off, telling me to "just leave". Jon basically lost his temper. I did think it would lighten the mood at the end of the interview, it wasn’t a personal attack in any way.'

Mr Kilcoyne added: 'There was shouting across the newsroom as I left but I don't want to say any more about what was said because I can't be 100 per cent sure.'

Mr Snow declined to comment this morning.

While Mr Snow claims to have 'no recollection' of the Glastonbury incident, he was nonetheless taken to task live on air last night

Although he was off-screen at the time, Mr Snow's surprise at Mr Kilcoyne's comment was all too evident

Three panel members gave views for and against the success of austerity before Mr Snow brought the discussion to a close. It was then that Mr Kilcoyne made his quip

Viewers took to Twitter to offer their reaction to the comment on Channel 4 News yesterday

Viewers took to Twitter to offer their reaction. John Lister wrote: 'How dare he speak to our Jon like that?'

Another, called Gary Barker, added: 'Like you say, no class. But he's a Tory, so that's a truism.'

Gordon Profit wrote: 'Utterly disgraceful what he said to Jon Snow. Well done, Jon, for putting him in his place.'

Earlier this week MPs called for Mr Snow to be sacked after apparently shouting the four-letter slur at the Conservatives.

The 69-year-old, who is one of Channel 4's biggest names, is alleged to have told revellers 'I'm supposed to be neutral' after his comment.

Jon turned and said to me: "Well thanks a bunch, you complete b***end, that was totally unprofessional" Matt Kilcoyne of the Adam Smith Institute

Although Ofcom rules on impartiality do not govern what journalists can say in their own time, it is not usual for prominent newsreaders or reporters to make their political affiliations known.

In his defence, Mr Snow said: 'After a day at Glastonbury I can honestly say I have no recollection of what was chanted, sung or who I took over 1,000 selfies with.'

Following the allegation Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, said: 'His position as a serious political interviewer is untenable after that vociferous, deeply offensive outburst.

'It is time for Channel 4 to tell Jon Snow where to go. How could he possibly interview a Conservative politician after that outburst? It's disgraceful.

'He should do the decent thing and resign. If not, he should be sacked, of course.'

It is not the first time Mr Snow has faced criticism, having been accused of left wing bias on a number of occasions throughout his 40-year career.

He has also faced accusations of being openly pro-Remain over the UK's referendum vote last year, regularly posting what some viewed as anti-Brexit statements on Twitter.

Mr Snow posted online that it was 'amazing' to be with the 200,000 music fans at Glastonbury

The 69-year-old, who is one of Channel 4's biggest names, (pictured) is alleged to have told revellers 'I'm supposed to be neutral' after his comment

Viewers of Channel 4 News have also complained about Mr Snow's failure to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day in the past.

In 2010, having refused to bow to viewer demands for him to wear a poppy, Mr Snow branded it 'poppy fascism'.

The Channel 4 host retorted ‘On yer bike’ and ‘Hitler lost the war’ after he was criticised for not wearing the emblem.

A viewer, writing under the name Stan, posted a comment on Mr Snow’s blog telling the presenter he was ‘dishonouring’ the war dead because he had refused to wear a poppy during broadcasts.

The remark provoked an angry response from Mr Snow, who said soldiers had died so that people had the freedom to choose when and where not to wear the symbol.

He cited a wave of ‘poppy fascism’, in which public figures are criticised for not wearing the poppy when appearing on television.

Mr Snow has also been criticised in the past for openly favouring Palestine over Israel when reporting on the region.

Mr Kilcoyne is the head of communications at the Adam Smith Institute - a free market, neoliberal think tank based in London.