A comment made by Jo Brand about throwing battery acid over politicians is now being assessed by police.

The Metropolitian Police have said they are now looking into a commment made on Tuesday by the famous comedian after an allegation was made of incitement to violence.

During an appearance on Victoria Coren Mitchell’s Heresy programme on BBC Radio 4, Brand joked about throwing battery acid over politicians.

Her comments were made in reference to a wave of incidents where right-wing figures including Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson had milkshakes thrown over them.

She said: ‘Well, yes, I would say that but that’s because certain unpleasant characters are being thrown to the fore and they’re very, very easy to hate.

‘I’m kind of thinking “Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?”

‘That’s just me. I’m not going to do it, it’s purely a fantasy, but I think milkshakes are pathetic, I honestly do, sorry.’

Brand was fiercely criticised following the comments and accused of ‘inciting violence’ against politicians.

Downing Street is now pushing for the BBC to explain why it had broadcast the remarks, referring to the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox in their statement.

Theresa May’s official spokesman said on Thursday: ‘The Prime Minister has been repeatedly clear that politicians should be able to go about their work and campaign without harassment, intimidation or abuse.

‘I note that Brendan Cox has said that violence and intimidation should not be normalised and we should consistently stand against it.

‘The Prime Minister shares this view. It is for the BBC to explain why it considers this to have been appropriate content for broadcast.’

Brexit Party leader Farage has also hit back at the comedian, tweeting on Wednesday: ‘This is incitement of violence and the police need to act.’

However, some accused the 55-year-old of hypocrisy after Farage told supporters he would ‘don khaki, pick up a rifle and head for the front lines’ if Brexit was not delivered last year.

The former UKIP leader was the target of a milkshake attack last month during a visit to Newcastle City Centre.

As he was ushered away by security staff after the incident, he could be heard muttering that it was a ‘complete failure’ and ‘I could have spotted that a mile off’.

On Wednesday, the broadcaster defended Brand’s comment.

A BBC spokeswoman said: ‘Heresy is a long-running comedy programme where, as the title implies and as our listeners know, panellists often say things which are deliberately provocative and go against societal norms but are not intended to be taken seriously.’

Ofcom, the broadcast watchdog, said it has received 65 complaints about the episode of Heresy.

Shortly before the end of Tuesday’s programme, Coren Mitchell said the radio show was made to ‘test the boundaries of what it’s OK to say and not say’ but hoped Brand’s comment had not caused offence.

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