BBC Issues Apology to Robert Jenrick Over ‘Xenophobia’ Remark on Radio 4
The BBC has formally apologised to shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick after a controversial remark on Radio 4’s Today programme suggested he was xenophobic.
The dispute stems from Wednesday’s broadcast, when Krish Kandiah, director of the Sanctuary Foundation, linked Mr Jenrick’s stance on immigration to “fear of the stranger”.
Mr Kandiah told listeners: “The technical name for this is xenophobia. All phobias are by definition irrational. Nevertheless, they have a huge impact. Over the past year, xenophobia has fuelled angry protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, deepening divisions in our communities.”
Mr Jenrick hit back, accusing the BBC of painting “millions of worried citizens” with an unfair label. “Illegal migration is obviously fuelling crime and the public are right to be concerned about it.
It’s extremely disappointing the BBC thought it was acceptable to smear millions of worried citizens as ‘xenophobic’ for their completely understandable fears about undocumented men entering illegally.”
Following the backlash, the broadcaster’s head of editorial standards, Roger Mahony, admitted the remarks “went beyond” what should be expected of Thought For The Day. He confirmed the two references to xenophobia had now been removed from the BBC Sounds version.
In his letter to Mr Jenrick, Mr Mahony wrote: “I have concluded that, while its reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective is broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language it used went beyond that.
I have asked for the two references to xenophobia to be edited from the programme on BBC Sounds. Please accept my apology for their original inclusion.”
The row comes amid rising tensions over asylum seeker accommodation in the UK. In Epping, Essex, the Bell Hotel has been the focus of angry protests after an asylum seeker was accused of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
The accused, 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, denies the charge of sexual assault and faces trial this month.
The BBC, in a public statement, reiterated its apology: “During this episode of Thought For The Day, criticism was made of recent comments by shadow secretary of state for justice Robert Jenrick, about hotels housing asylum seekers.
While the programme’s reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective was broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language used went beyond that and we apologise for its inclusion. It has been removed from the version on BBC Sounds.”
This incident reignites debate over how political discourse on immigration is framed in the media, and whether terms like xenophobic risk shutting down legitimate public concerns.
