Jenrick faces criticism after Handsworth remarks about integration

Robert Jenrick, the Conservative Party's shadow justice secretary, is facing criticism after a leaked recording of remarks he made on March 14 at a local party dinner in which he described a visit to Handsworth, Birmingham, saying he did not see another white face during about 90 minutes and that the area was "appalling" and "as close as I have come to a slum in this country." In the recording, he called Handsworth "one of the worst integrated places" he had visited and said "that's not the kind of country I want to live in," while adding that his concern was about people living alongside one another rather than "the colour of your skin or your faith."

Labour Party officials have urged Jenrick to explain the remarks and criticised them as reducing people to their race. Anna Turley, Labour's chair, said people of colour should not have to justify their Britishness and called for an urgent explanation of how the comments align with recent statements from Conservative leadership about rejecting politics that pits groups against one another. Handsworth's MP described the comments as false and irresponsible, saying they misrepresented a diverse community. Former Labour MP Khalid...