LABOUR has demanded that broadcasters give women more air time in the so-far male-dominated EU referendum debate.

Analysis by the party revealed yesterday that 78 male politicians have made appearances on the most popular BBC and ITV shows to discuss the debate compared with just 18 women.

Former deputy leader Harriet Harman warned that “women are being excluded and the debate narrowed” in a letter demanding action from broadcaster regulator Ofcom.

Leader Jeremy Corbyn called for “more strong women’s voices” to be heard last night as he addressed a public referendum debate in Hastings.

And Labour attempted to refocus the debate by staging a press conference on womens’ rights and the EU yesterday.

Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle challenged the Leave campaign to spell out what EU social protections they would reverse after Tory Employment Minister Priti Patel said last week that she wanted to “halve the burdens of the EU social and employment legislation.”

“From tackling the gender pay gap to safeguarding maternity rights and paid holidays, our membership of the European Union is key,” claimed Ms Eagle.

“Brexit would put this all at risk, allowing a Tory government to strip away protections for women in a race to the bottom on workers’ rights.”

But the Leave campaign pointed out rights to equal pay were established before Britain joined the EU, while the right to maternity pay is enshrined in British law. It also pointed out that the hated tampon tax was imposed on Britain by the EU.

Labour MP and Vote Leave chair Gisela Stuart said: “The UK has led the way in promoting and protecting workers’ rights, and it’s deeply misleading to suggest that leaving the EU would put them at risk.

“The best way to ensure that workers’ rights are to protected is to have a parliament that is directly accountable to the people.”