The remark left the shadow health secretary was left shocked when Marr said he was trying “to get an interesting answer” out of the MP. The tense moment took place as Marr questioned Mr Ashworth on whether the Government will have to hike up taxes to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

He continued: “We will have to look at the burden of taxation as we try to rebuild our society after the crisis.

“I’m not sure you can expect me to itemise specific taxation levels when the priority has to be getting through this crisis here and now.”

Marr rebuked: “Jonathan Ashworth, I was only trying to get an interesting answer from you but thank you very much indeed.”

The Labour MP said: “Sorry I was not interesting enough for you, I do apologise.”

Earlier in the interview, Mr Ashworth rejected claims that Labour were trying to “score political points” following criticism of the government during the coronavirus crisis.

He said: “We’re raising these issues not to undermine Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock, not to secure some political point, but because we all want the national effort to succeed.”

The shadow health secretary also urged the government to be “crystal clear” about which work is essential, and which is not.

He said: “”here are many non-essential workers being forced to go to their workplaces where they cannot be two metres apart.”