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Jon Snow draws complaints for 'white people' remark at Brexit rally

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Jon Snow and the pro-Brexit marchImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jon Snow is the longest-running presenter of Channel 4 News

More than 2,000 people have complained after Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow said of a pro-Brexit rally that he had "never seen so many white people".

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

The Channel 4 News anchor made the comment when he was signing off from Friday evening's live bulletin.

A spokeswoman said it was "an unscripted observation", and said Channel 4 News regretted any offence.

Snow was speaking as pictures showed protesters in Westminster after MPs had rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's EU withdrawal agreement on the day the UK was due to leave the EU.

Snow told viewers: "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.

Media caption,

Leave supporters have gathered outside Parliament

"There are people everywhere, there are crowds everywhere."

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: "We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate."

The remarks drew criticism from some viewers who described the comments about "white people" as unnecessary.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Channel 4 News 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."

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