Jon Snow apologised after claiming he had “never seen so many white people in one place” after Friday’s pro-Brexit protest. Speaking on LBC, Jacob Rees-Mogg was asked about the remarks to which he defended Mr Snow as “one of the foremost broadcasters in this country”. The Conservative MP for North East Somerset also recalled a story of when his son met Mr Snow, before branding the TV host as “the leftie off the tele”.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: “He came to a drinks part with me once. Some years ago. I have never told him this, so if he is listening, he will find out.

“One of my children opened the door, and saw him and ran to nanny, and said ‘nanny, nanny, it’s that leftie off the tele.

“Everyone knows Jon Snow is the leftie off the tele. I don’t think they should be too surprised but he is a very fair and good interviewer.”

Responding to Mr Snow’s remarks on Friday evening, the Tory MP said: “I think Jon Snow is one of the foremost broadcasters in this country.

Everyone knows Jon Snow is the leftie off the tele

Jacob Rees-Mogg

“We know his political leanings, but like you actually. I don’t know if you will take this as a compliment but it is intended as one.

“You’re as tough an interviewer on somebody from the right as you are on somebody from the left.

“Jon Snow does the same from the other direction. I always feel when I am being interviewed by Mr Snow that I get a fair but rigorous interview.

“If he has got John McDonnell on next, John McDonnell will get the same. Indeed I don’t think Jeremy Corbyn will be interviewed by him.”

Mr Rees-Mogg added that he thought the “racial stereotypes” were “deeply unhelpful to the political debate”.

Speaking on Friday evening after the Channel 4 News live broadcast, Mr Snow said: “It’s been the most extraordinary day.

“A day which has seen… I have never seen so many white people in one place, it’s an extraordinary story.

“There are people everywhere, there are crowds everywhere.”

In a statement, Channel 4 said: “This was an unscripted observation at the very end of a long week of fast-moving Brexit developments.

“Jon has covered major events such as this over a long career and this was a spontaneous comment reflecting his observation that in a London demonstration of that size, ethnic minorities seemed to be significantly under-represented. We regret any offence caused by his comment.”

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said it had received 2,025 complaints and is deciding whether to investigate.

On Friday thousands of people marched in London demanding Brexit be delivered – on the day the UK was originally scheduled to leave the Brussels bloc.

MPs voted against the Prime Minister’s deal and on Monday will vote on indicative votes to try to find a path moving forward.

Speaking after the defeat, Mrs May said: “This House has rejected no deal. It has rejected no Brexit. On Wednesday it rejected all the variations of the deal on the table.

“And today it has rejected approving the withdrawal agreement alone and continuing a process on the future.

“This Government will continue to press the case for the orderly Brexit that the result of the referendum demands.”

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