Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has pledged to continue highlighting concerns about illegal migration despite what he characterised as a “smear” by the BBC.
The Conservative MP said: “The accusation, the smear, was that anyone who is worried about the safety of their children because of illegal migrants coming into their communities and committing crimes is, essentially, a racist. And that’s totally wrong. I think those people are just good parents.”
The comments come after the BBC issued an apology following a Radio 4 Today programme segment in which contributor Dr Krish Kandiah, a theologian and author, labelled Mr Jenrick “xenophobic” during Wednesday’s Thought for the Day slot.
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The accusation related to an article where Mr Jenrick expressed concerns about his daughters potentially living close to “men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally and about whom you know next to nothing”.
The broadcaster acknowledged that whilst Dr Kandiah’s contribution aligned with typical Thought for the Day content, certain terminology exceeded acceptable boundaries.
The BBC said that “some of the language it used went beyond that and we apologise for its inclusion.”
Speaking on GB News, Mr Jenrick said: “When I see the protests outside the hotels and I’ve been to visit Fareham, Altrincham and Diss to speak to members of the public I just see fair-minded, patriotic people who are worried about their communities being destroyed.
“And, factually, that programme was also wrong, because there is a link between illegal migration and crime. We see that every day in some of these individuals who are being charged with sexual offences.
“There have been two individuals charged as a result of crimes committed by migrants at the hotel in Epping. Of course, they deny these claims and yes, these are allegations at this stage but the allegations are mounting up.
“Just in the last two months, think of the number of allegations that have come forward: rapes, attempted kidnappings. This is wrong.
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“I come to this from a very simple principle: if I don’t want this for my young girls, if I don’t want these men hanging outside their school gates or in the playgrounds they use, why should I force this on anybody else?”
He added: “I’m now used to people insulting me. I’m not going to be squeamish about raising these issues, and I don’t think any of us should be.
“I think a lot of people in Westminster and in our media elite are totally out of touch with the concerns of working people across this country.
“And it’s on us, GB News is an amazing broadcaster in this respect, to raise those concerns on behalf of the public.”
Following the Radio 4 broadcast, Mr Jenrick characterised the programme’s message as telling listeners that “if you’re concerned about the threat of illegal migrants to your kids, you’re racist”.
Tensions across the country are reaching fever pitch as angry Britons protest outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers.