Robert Jenrick faces backlash over remarks about the lack of diversity during his visit to Handsworth in Birmingham. The Shadow Justice Secretary expressed discontent at not encountering “another white face” in the area, indicating it was not aligned with his vision of a harmoniously integrated society.
His statements, as reported by the Guardian, drew criticism from the local MP for implying that the presence of white individuals was a measure of proper integration. The comments were allegedly made at a dinner event held by the Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association in March.
During the dinner, Jenrick reportedly stated, “I went to Handsworth in Birmingham the other day to do a video on litter and it was absolutely appalling. It’s as close as I’ve come to a slum in this country. But the other thing I noticed there was that it was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. In fact, in the hour and a half I was filming news there I didn’t see another white face.”
The independent MP for the area, Ayoub Khan, denounced Jenrick’s remarks as inaccurate and irresponsible, attributing the local challenges to long-standing austerity measures and council mismanagement rather than a failure of multiculturalism.
Former Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, representing Perry Barr which encompasses Handsworth, refuted Jenrick’s portrayal, emphasizing the area’s diverse and resilient community that includes individuals of various backgrounds and cultures.
Critics, including Anna Turley MP, Chair of the Labour Party, condemned Jenrick for reducing people to their skin color and questioned the compatibility of his remarks with the party’s principles. Georgie Laming from Hope Not Hate cautioned against divisive rhetoric, warning that it could empower far-right ideologies.
Jenrick’s team declined to provide a response to the controversy.