WATCH: Labour MP Barry Sheerman says 'better educated' people voted to stay in the EU
2 min read
Labour backbencher Barry Sheerman has sparked controversy by claiming that “better educated” voters opted for Remain in the EU referendum.
The Huddersfield MP told the BBC's Sunday Politics: "The truth is that when you look at who voted to remain, most of them were the better educated people in our country."
But Tory MP Stuart Andrew, who was also on the show, immediately hit back, branding the remarks “snobbery”.
The pair were discussing Conservative Whip Chris Heaton-Harris’s controversial letter to universities asking for details of Brexit courses and a list of teaching staff.
Mr Sheerman described the letter as an attempt to "frighten campuses".
"This man who went to Wolverhampton Polytechnic, who does he think he is trying to frighten my university in Huddersfield," he said.
Defending his colleague. Mr Andrew replied: "I am astounded by this snobbery. The fact that Chris went to some polytechnic is some problem."
After a social media backlash from Leave supporters, Mr Sheerman took to Twitter to say he was pleased his comments had “stimulated debate”.
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