Pat Glass, the shadow Europe minister, made her controversial comments just weeks after describing a member of the public as a 'horrible racist'

A senior member of Labour's 'in' campaign urged activists not to bother trying to canvass 'older white men' – because they are the 'problem'.

Pat Glass, the shadow Europe minister, made her controversial comments just weeks after describing a member of the public as a 'horrible racist'.

She performed her latest gaffe while appearing alongside John McDonnell at a Labour In For Britain event in Wolverhampton on Monday night.

The Express and Star newspaper said she had been responding to a voter's question on how to engage people to back the Remain campaign

The MP for North West Durham said women and young people were 'key' to a Remain victory and added: 'Go and speak to your mother, your grandmother. Don't speak to your grandfather, we know the problem are older white men.'

Mr McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, then responded: 'Can I speak up for a couple of older white men? I'll let Jeremy know.'

A Labour spokesman from the party's West Midlands region said: 'It was a light-hearted comment and it was received in that way by the audience. Labour are clearly fighting for every single vote and are of course encouraging everyone to vote to remain on 23 June.'

Only days earlier, Ms Glass was forced to apologise for branding a voter a 'horrible racist' while campaigning in Sawley, Derbyshire.

According to BBC Radio Derby, the member of the public had referred to a Polish family living in the town as 'scroungers'.

Ms Glass told the station: 'The very first person I come to was a horrible racist. I'm never coming back to wherever this is.'

The MP for North West Durham said women and young people were 'key' to a Remain victory. Mr McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, then responded: 'Can I speak up for a couple of older white men? I'll let Jeremy (Corbyn, pictured with Ms Glass) know'

Following criticism of her remarks, the MP said: 'The comments I made were inappropriate and I regret them. Concerns about immigration are entirely valid and it's important that politicians engage with them.

'I apologise to the people living in Sawley for any offence I have caused.'

Today Jeremy Corbyn will make a speech warning of the need to stay in the EU to defend workers' rights.