John McDonnell has described Sir Winston Churchill as a “villain” in comments that provoked widespread outrage.

The shadow chancellor was attacked as a “Poundland Lenin” by the grandson of the wartime prime minister over his description of a man who regularly tops polls of the greatest ever Briton.

Mr McDonnell chose to ignore Churchill’s achievement in saving Europe from the Nazis and instead criticised him over a controversy involving an Edwardian-era miners’ strike.

His comments will be seen as particularly ill-judged as they come while Labour is embroiled in a fresh row over anti-Semitism. Churchill is feted worldwide for his role in defeating Adolf Hitler, a man who pursued a policy of exterminating Europe’s Jews.

Mr McDonnell was asked at an event run by the Politico website: “Winston Churchill - hero or villain?” He replied: “Tonypandy. Villain.”