Angela Rayner has publicly apologised for her comments referring to Tory "scum" at a late-night event during the Labour Party conference.
The Labour Deputy Leader said she has reflected on her language.
She states the comments were made during a period of bereavement leave after losing a close loved one.
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Ms Rayner said she "unreservedly apologised" for the comment and ensured she would be more careful in the future.
Ms Rayner said she thought hard about the "threats and abuse" that are involved in political life - hinting at the recent murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess.
In a statement shared with the Mirror, she said: "I was angry about where our country is headed and policies that have made life harder for so many people I represent.
"But I would like to unreservedly apologise for the language I used, and I would not use it again.
"I will continue to speak my mind, stand up for Labour values and hold the government to account.
"But in the future, I will be more careful about how I do that and in the language that I choose.
"All of us in positions of leadership have a responsibility for our language and rhetoric, whether towards political opponents or anyone else in society, especially those already most vulnerable.
"As Deputy Leader of the Labour Party I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and I am sure that politicians from all parties, the media and others with a prominent role in our public life will also reflect on this shared responsibility."
Ms Rayner made the comments to Labour members from the North West of England at last month's conference in Brighton.
While at the conference, she also joked about the quality of food and slapped down a heckler who apparently urged her to challenge Keir Starmer.
She said to the heckler: "You've had all the wine that I haven't had mate!"
Meanwhile, she told members: "We face a global threat again. Many of our comrades haven't made it.
"Everyone in this room will know somebody who's been seriously ill or died from Covid. We've been through so much and deserve so much better than what we've got."
She added: "I’m sick of shouting from the sidelines and I bet youse lot are as well.
"We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile [inaudible] Banana Republic, vile, nasty, Etonian [inaudible] piece of scum.”
Initially, Ms Rayner stood by her remarks despite the demand for an apology from Tory MPs.
Keir Starmer also distanced himself from the remarks, saying he would "not have used them."
"Let me be clear, I am talking about members of the Cabinet," Ms Rayner said when asked if she was talking about Tories in general.
She told Sky News last month: "I am not saying that anyone who voted for the Conservatives are racist, scummy and homophobic… I’m saying the Prime Minister has said those things and acted in that way.
"If the Prime Minister wants to apologise and remove himself from those comments he’s made that are homophobic, racist and misogynistic then I will apologise for calling him scummy."
In her statement today, Ms Rayner also spoke out over the "terrifying" threats she has received in the wake of the row over her comments.
"They have had a devastating impact on me, my children and others close to me," she said.
"It shakes you when you get these threats. You worry about the safety of your home, your office and everything in your life. And it takes its toll on the people who work for me too."
She said her staff shouldn't be required to deal with daily death threats.
Yesterday in South Yorkshire and Halifa, two men were arrested as part of a police investigation into "threatening and abusive phone calls, emails and letters" to Ms Rayner.
It's understood enquiries are still ongoing.
A third man, Benjamin Iliffe, 36, of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, today pleaded guilty to sending a threatening email to Ms Rayner.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of cannabis on Wednesday when he was arrested.
The former delivery driver told Ms Rayner to "watch your back and your kids" ad said "I already found your personal home address" in the threatening email on October 16, Huntingdon Magistrates/ Court heard.
Iliffe has been sentenced to 15 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.
A probation officer told the court Iliffe had felt Ms Rayner was "partially responsible for the attack" on Sir David "following her use of language."
The court later heard he was "apologetic and remorseful" over sending the email.
Angela Rayner's statement in full
I have been off work over the last couple of weeks after losing a close loved one. Grief is the burden we bear for love and losing someone close is something that we all experience at some point in our lives, but that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier when it happens to you. So I can’t imagine what the family of Sir David Amess are going through, but I know they will be hurting. I send my heartfelt condolences to them. Sir David was a fine parliamentarian, a proud advocate for his constituents and above all such a kind, generous and warm-hearted man. He will be missed on all sides of the House.
As a society we need to offer better support to people who are going through bereavement, loss and other traumatic or difficult experiences in their personal lives. I hope that the fact that I took time to deal with a bereavement will encourage other people to do the same when they are going through grief or trauma.
While I have been away from the cut and thrust of Parliament I have reflected on our political debate and the threats and abuse that now seem to feature all too often.
I have also reflected on what I said at an event at Labour Party conference. I was angry about where our country is headed and policies that have made life harder for so many people I represent. But I would like to unreservedly apologise for the language I used, and I would not use it again.
I will continue to speak my mind, stand up for Labour values and hold the government to account. But in the future I will be more careful about how I do that and in the language that I choose.
All of us in positions of leadership have a responsibility for our language and rhetoric, whether towards political opponents or anyone else in society, especially those already most vulnerable. As Deputy Leader of the Labour Party I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and I am sure that politicians from all parties, the media and others with a prominent role in our public life will also reflect on this shared responsibility.
I want to address the threats I have received recently. In the past I have been reluctant to speak out about the abuse that I receive because I fear that doing so will only make the situation worse. However, in recent weeks the threats that I have received against my life and the lives of close family have been so terrifying and explicit that I could not stay silent and simply continue to take it as ‘part of the job’. They have had a devastating impact on me, my children and others close to me.
It shakes you when you get these threats. You worry about the safety of your home, your office and everything in your life. And it takes its toll on the people who work for me too.
