Exclusive: Tories Blast ‘Socialist’ BBC Radio Show After Jenrick Accused Of Xenophobia

A row has erupted between the Tories and the BBC after a Today programme contributor accused Robert Jenrick of “xenophobia”.

Theologian and author Krish Kandiah hit out at the shadow justice secretary during the Radio 4 show’s religious ‘Thought For The Day’ slot this morning.

He condemned Jenrick over a Mail on Sunday article in which he was quoted attacking asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on small boats.

Kandiah said: ”[Jenrick] said ‘I certainly don’t want my children to share a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally and about whom we know next to nothing’.

“These words echo a fear many have absorbed – fear of the stranger. The technical term for this is xenophobia. All phobias are, by definition, irrational. Nevertheless, they do have an impact.”

He added: “Over the past year, xenophobia has fuelled angry protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, deepening divisions in our communities.”

Kandiah said there was no evidence to suggest immigrants pose a greater threat to children than people they already know.

“Fear, when it makes us cautious, can keep us safe,” he said. “But when it makes us unnecessarily suspicious, it can be dangerous, making society mare fractured and fragile, and eroding the very values that we want our children to experience – kindness, fairness and open-mindedness.”

But a Tory source told HuffPost UK: “Thought for the Day has long descended into a bunch of nobodies wittering on about their mad hat socialist ideas.

“If the BBC are not prepared to broadcast serious religious voices they should at least ensure the second rate ones they do find are balanced.”