Streatham MP Chuka Umunna has launched a tirade on Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson after he said all those involved in public sector strikes “should be shot”.

On BBC One’s Question Time on Thursday, Mr Umunna said he felt “angered” that Clarkson’s remarks had been made a main topic of debate, adding he could not understand why the BBC considered him to be a “big talent”.

Clarkson has since apologised for his remarks, in which he said he would "execute" those on strike in front of their families. He insisted the comments were not supposed “to be taken seriously”.

But as of Friday afternoon, the BBC had received more than 21,000 complaints about the incident, which happened during a live interview on BBC One’s The One Show.

Mr Umunna described it as “the latest in a series of offensive, unpleasant things from what seems to me to be a fairly unpleasant individual”.

The shadow business secretary said: “I’m kind of angry that we are discussing Jeremy Clarkson because actually the industrial action yesterday is a far bigger [issue].

“In a way this is what he likes, he likes us to be talking about his latest contribution to public life and it is the latest in a series of offensive, unpleasant things from what seems to me to be a fairly unpleasant individual.

“And one thing that I don’t understand is- what is the big deal with Jeremy Clarkson? You know, where is the big talent? Could someone else not do what he does? I don’t really see what he adds. What does he add, I mean, why do the BBC seem to think he is this amazing person?”

Presenter David Dimbleby responded: “Because he gets big audiences. Because we have more questions about this than any other subject, apart from the strike which we will come to. There must be something in it.”

But Mr Umunna replied: “I’m not sure whether that is a determinant as to whether somebody has talent.”