EU referendum: Backlash over Labour shadow minister's 'old white men' comment

Express & Star readers were quick to hit back at the Labour front bencher - and three senior West Midlands politicians from both sides of the EU referendum debate also condemned the remark.

On Twitter, John Wilson said: "The lady is correct, we remember last time we voted against joining Common Market with eight countries and lost."

And Dave Blyth added: "Is Pat Glass for real? Does she really think that older men in the UK should not have a voice? Stupid and desperate."

On Expressandstar.com one reader said: "She can't help herself, she just keeps putting her foot in it. Funny how it's a light hearted comment when people like her make these type of comments."

Another added: "Good job she didn't say the problem is black older men, there would of been an uproar, she would of been racist as well as sexist. And she has the nerve to call someone a racist."

And a third man commented: "It's a wonder they don't ban us old white men from voting at all."

Stone MP Sir Bill Cash, said the comments were 'ageist', 'sexist', and 'possibly racist' while South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson labelled the remarks as 'insulting'.

And West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge said the comments showed 'contempt' for the white working class population.

Sir Bill, a leading Eurosceptic, said: "Every single voter is important in this referendum.

"It is the future of everyone we are voting for on June 23 and excluding white men is ageist, sexist, and possibly racist.

"And the most important thing to remember is it was these very old people who fought and died to save Britain from Nazi Germany in the Second World War. They fought for our democracy which is being taken away by the European Union."

Mr Williamson, who supports staying in the EU, added: "The comments are incredibly insulting and maybe Ms Glass needs to really think about engaging the brain before she speaks. She seems to be getting a bit of a reputation.

"The people I have been speaking to, regardless of gender, age, or background, all want a reasoned debate and it is important we speak to all of them and that they get out and vote."

And West Midlands UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge said: "These remarks are typical of today's Labour Party. They have completely turned their back on large sections of the population.

"They find something distasteful about being male and white. They may as well add working class to the description because we all know the contempt they hold for the white working class population.

"If somebody had said even jokingly that the problem was young women of ethnically diverse origins the Labour Party would be howling in protest calling the perpetrator every name under the sun.

"This shows that large sections of the Remain campaign and the Labour Party in general are absolute hypocrites worthy of nothing but scorn."

Ms Glass said old white men were 'the problem' while answering a question about encouraging voters at a Labour event supporting the Remain campaign at Wolverhampton's Grand Station on Monday.

She was appearing alongside shadow chancellor John McDonnell who appeared to be uncomfortable by the comment and later tried to laugh it off.

Earlier in the campaign she had to apologise after being caught on microphone calling a voter a 'horrible racist'.

The Labour Party described Ms Glass's comments as 'light hearted' and that the 200-strong audience at Grand Station in Wolverhampton received it in that manner.