Mel Stride Slaps Down Robert Jenrick Over 'No White Faces' Remark As Tory Splits Erupt

Mel Stride and Robert Jenrick when they were in cabinet togetherMel Stride has slapped down Robert Jenrick after he complained about not seeing a “white face” during a visit to Birmingham.The shadow chancellor broke ranks with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who had earlier defended Jenrick over the remark.The controversy has overshadowed the third day of the Conservatives’ conference in Manchester.In a secret recording obtained by The Guardian, the shadow justice secretary told a Conservative dinner: “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.”Asked about Jenrick’s comments, Badenoch told BBC Breakfast he had made a “factual statement” and insisted there was “nothing wrong with making observations”.But Stride told Politico: “Those are not words that I would have used. Having said that, everybody chooses their own words.“It’s now being asked, does the fact that he said that make him a racist? No, I don’t believe it does at all. But I think everybody chooses their own words. And I’ll be frank and say they are not words that I would have chosen.”Andy Street, the former Tory mayor of Birmingham, also criticised Jenrick.Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight programme, he said: “Putting it bluntly, Robert is wrong. It’s a place I know very well, Handsworth. It’s come a hell of a long way in the 40 years since the last civil disturbances there and it’s actually a very integrated place.“If you go along the main streets there you will see Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, a lot of them of African and Caribbean ... origin. And of course white people as well. It is actually one of the most successfully integrated places. Brilliant civil society, brilliant faith leadership.”🚨🎥 WATCH: Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride says Robert Jenrick's "not a single white face" remark about an area of Birmingham were "not words I would have used" pic.twitter.com/lHflp5Y7pI— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) October 7, 2025Related...Robert Jenrick Mocks Liz Truss In Brutal Tory Conference Jibe At Former Party LeaderRobert Jenrick Tries To Turn The Tables On The Media Amid Anger Over 'No White Faces' RemarkTop Tory Slams Robert Jenrick For Saying Part Of His City Is A 'Slum' With 'No White Faces'

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