ROBERT Jenrick should lose the Tory whip for “racist” comments he made, an MSP has told The National.
The shadow justice secretary, widely tipped as a future Conservative Party leader, complained that he had not seen “another white face” after a trip to Handsworth, Birmingham earlier this year.
According to a leaked recording of a speech he gave after visiting the diverse community obtained by The Guardian, the top Tory MP added: “That’s not the kind of country I want to live in.”
The Tories have so far backed Jenrick, who is seen as a potential contender if current leader Kemi Badenoch stands down.
But the Scottish Greens have called on Badenoch to suspend the whip from Jenrick.
MSP Maggie Chapman told The National: “This is nothing short of appallingly bold racism and shameful stereotyping from Robert Jenrick. He knows that these sweeping generalisations fan the flames of a culture war, misrepresent communities and seek only to spread fear and cause harm.
“He can claim that he said it because he wants to see integrated communities, but it is simply another example of a Tory party desperate to peddle the same divisive tropes as Reform while allowing division and cruelty to remain at the heart of their policies.
“If the Tories had even the remotest concern about racism and prejudice they would be removing the whip from Robert Jenrick rather than celebrating him.”
LibDem Scottish affairs spokesperson Susan Murray added: "These irresponsible comments only risk inflaming tensions.
“In Scotland, and everywhere in the UK, we benefit from the diversity in our communities.
"It’s extremely worrying that Jenrick and Farage look at people who aren’t white and talk about them as if they can’t really be British.
“It’s wrong, ignorant and only makes it harder to achieve the integration, tolerance and respect we all want to see.”
Jenrick was recorded saying: “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.
“That’s not the kind of country I want to live in.”
His comments have sparked an explosive row, with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker telling the BBC that the remarks were racist.
Asked if he believed Jenrick’s speech was racist, he said: “I do. Because he’s set out intentionally to draw on a particular issue – people’s colour – to identify the point he wanted to make.”
Local MP Ayoub Khan, who represents Birmingham Perry Bar, told The Guardian: “The claims made by the shadow justice secretary are not only wildly false but also incredibly irresponsible. He has misrepresented a storied and diverse community, awkwardly distorting the product of an all-out bin strike to fit his culture-warrior narrative filled with far-right cliches.”
Badenoch has stood by Jenrick, telling the BBC on Tuesday morning: “These are recordings out of context. I don’t know what was being discussed before he said that.
“But in and of itself, it’s a factual statement. If he said he didn’t see another white face, he might have been making an observation. There’s nothing wrong with making observations.”
Jenrick has also doubled down, telling LBC that he had brought up skin colour “because it’s incredibly important that we have a fully integrated society regardless of the colour of their skin or the faith that they abide by”.
Elsewhere, he added that he “won’t shy away from these issues”.
The Conservatives were approached for comment.
