Tory MP sparks anger saying jobless young people should take up farm work alongside 'gorgeous EU women'

Craig Mackinlay said British youngsters needed to match the motivation of European workers

Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay, 50, pictured campaigning in South Thanet in May 2015 (PA)

A Tory MP has prompted anger after saying jobless young people should "get on their bikes" and take up farm work alongside “gorgeous EU women”.

Craig Mackinlay said British youngsters needed to match the motivation of European workers to fill the jobs left empty after Brexit, while speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative conference in Manchester.

His comments were branded "misogynist" and "offensive" by opposition MPs, although Mr Mackinlay later said his "flippant" remarks had been taken out of context.

The South Thanet MP told the event: "I was struggling to think why wouldn't a youngster from Glasgow without a job come down to the south to work for a farm for the summer with loads of gorgeous EU women working there?"

"What's not to like? Get on your bike and find a job," according to comments reported by Business Insider.

Mr Mackinlay added: "We need to mobilise our core of unemployed to say there is a job there for me, let's go and get it just as the very well-motivated Bucharest youngster gets a coach across Europe to find a job."

His comments are unlikely to boost efforts to woo younger voters, which have seen Theresa May promising to freeze tuition fees and moves to bring back the party's youth wing.

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine compared his remarks to former Tory cabinet minister Norman Tebbit, who reportedly told the unemployed to "get on your bike".

She said: "Rather than making dismissive and offensive remarks, the Conservatives should be investing in training to get more British young people into work.

"Maybe Mr Mackinlay should follow his own advice and start picking fruit rather than picking fights."

Labour's Seema Malhotra said the comments were "misogynist and patronising" and urged Mr Mackinlay to take them back.

She said: "It is attitudes like this that do not belong in a modern, diverse and tolerant society that the UK is. I hope that he will retract this statement and show far more respect to workers and to young people."

Mr Mackinlay, who beat Ukip leader Nigel Farage to win the seat in the 2015 election, faces trial next year on charges relating to his election expenses.