Robert Jenrick Tries To Turn The Tables On The Media Amid Anger Over 'No White Faces' Remark

Kamali Melbourne and Robert JenrickRobert Jenrick bizarrely blamed journalists for fuelling division in the UK amid anger at his claim there are not enough “white faces” in one part of Birmingham.A leaked recording revealed the shadow justice secretary expressed concern over the lack of integration in Handsworth.According to The Guardian, he said: “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.”Speaking from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this morning, Jenrick insisted he stood by those comments and that he “never wants to see segregated or ghettoised communities”.But as Sky News presenter Kamali Melbourne pointed out, Jenrick was only in Handsworth “for 90 minutes”.The Conservative MP then hit back, claiming last week’s terror attack on a Manchester synagogue demonstrates that a conversation about integration needed to happen.Melbourne said: “I do wonder how you can judge if a person is integrated by the colour of their skin, being there for 90 minutes?”Jenrick replied: “I was very clear it was not about the colour of their skin...” “You didn’t see ‘any white faces’ and that’s what made you feel like it wasn’t integrated?” Melbourne said.“We want all people to be living side by side, we can’t have particular communities in this country where there’s a heavy preponderance of one group or another,” the MP for Newark said.“You said you’re putting your head above the parapet,” Melbourne hit back. “That kind of language does give support to groups on the far-right that don’t want to see brown and Black people living in this country, you know that don’t you?”“No! I think that’s an absolutely disgraceful and ridiculous comment,” Jenrick replied angrily. “I tell you what gives rise to to extremist views.“With all due respect, it’s journalists like yourself – who shut down legitimate and fair debate –”“What did I do wrong?” Melbourne replied. “I’m not shutting it down, we’ve been talking about it for at least five minutes.”“It is because what you are implying is that you can’t say comments like that,” Jenrick insisted.“If we live in a country where politicians or members of the public cannot debate whether there is due integration or not then that does give fuel for extremists, that does give rise to the far-right.“You must not take far and reasonable comment and try to use them to shut down a debate that this country needs to have.”He continued: “Every time people try to raise this debate in a fair and reasonable way, journalists like you pop up and try to knock those people down.“That’s the reason why terrorist attacks happen.”Melbourne cut in: “It’s not my opinion necessarily, Robert, because it’s also the former mayor of the West Midlands’ [view].”Jenrick was criticised last night on BBC Newsnight by Andy Street, who was the Conservative metro mayor for the West Midlands until last year.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.”Kamali Melbourne challenges Robert Jenrick(Tory MP) over his leaked comments:“I went to Handsworth in Birmingham.. & it was absolutely appalling. It’s as close as I’ve come to a slum in this country... & I didn’t see another white face." pic.twitter.com/vgCJ9KsjGy— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) October 7, 2025Related...'You're Gaslighting Voters': Victoria Derbyshire Roasts Top Tory Over His Party's Record In OfficeTop Tory Slams Robert Jenrick For Saying Part Of His City Is A 'Slum' With 'No White Faces'Humiliating Photos Reveal Terrible Turnout For Key Speeches At Tory Conference

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