A COUNTY MP says even Jeremy Clarkson would be embarrassed by Top Gear magazines’ stereotypical portrayal of engineers as men.

Peter Luff, who represents Mid-Worcestershire, said a feature on careers in the publication, called Formula One, pictured white men in nearly all of the 40 positions.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on a review of engineering skills today, he said: “We must make engineering more diverse.

“Not for the sake of political correctness but of course the members of the ethnic minorities and the women that are not engineers but could be are missing out on one of life's great opportunities.

“And because engineering skills shortages would be considerably less acute if we could make it more diverse.

“I am really grateful to the Women's Engineering Society for drawing my attention to an article in this month's Top Gear.

“There are 40 images of a Formula One team. All are white men except the press officer and of course the six hospitality staff, in short skirts of course.

I think actually even Jeremy Clarkson might be embarrassed a bit by the stereotypes portrayed in this article.”

Mr Luff, who is stepping down in 2015, has pledged to try and encourage more young people into engineering before he leaves office.