Latest news with #KrishKandiah
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Refugee charity boss who accused Robert Jenrick of 'xenophobia' in BBC row says top Tory should work with him to 'de-escalate fear and anger' over small boats crisis
The refugee charity boss who accused Robert Jenrick of 'xenophobia' over his stance on illegal migration has now suggested he 'work together' with the top Tory. Dr Krish Kandiah, founder of the Sanctuary Foundation, said he had offered an 'olive branch' to the shadow justice secretary following a row earlier this week. The BBC was forced into an embarrassing climbdown on Wednesday when Dr Kandiah used a flagship radio news programme to attack Mr Jenrick. He used the Thought For The Day segment of BBC Radio 4's Today show to criticise a recent Mail on Sunday front page, in which Mr Jenrick said he worried for his young daughters and defended protests outside asylum hotels. Dr Kandiah, who is also a theologian and author, claimed the shadow cabinet minister had echoed 'fear of the stranger', adding: 'The technical name for this is xenophobia.' BBC bosses later apologised to Mr Jenrick and had Radio 4's Today taken down from its streaming servces and edited to remove references to xenophobia. Dr Kandiah doubled down on his comments by posting the original audio from the broadcast on social media and asking people to 'let me know what I am wrong about factually?'. But he subsequently said he was offering an 'olive branch' to Mr Jenrick and suggested they 'work together to de-escalate the fear and anger many are feeling in our country'. Dr Krish Kandiah, founder of the Sanctuary Foundation, said he had offered an 'olive branch' to the shadow justice secretary following a row earlier this week Dr Kandiah posted on X/Twitter: 'Mr Jenrick, I want your daughters and mine to be able to walk down the road safely and without fear. 'I worked with you when you were housing minister and the UK welcomed over 200,000 people from Hong Kong. 'I was grateful for your support and compassion during that time. I would love to find a way we could work together to de-escalate the fear and anger many are feeling in our country. 'I believe we need to focus on the real challenges that are making people worried – housing, jobs and the cost of living – rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment.' Mr Jenrick this week accused the BBC of thinking it was 'acceptable to smear millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears about undocumented men entering illegally'. The row with Dr Kandiah followed Mr Jenrick's article in the Mail on Sunday, in which he wrote: '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.' He added: 'I can only sympathise with the mothers and fathers peacefully protesting outside asylum hotels who have been pushed to breaking point.' In a letter to Mr Jenrick this week, the BBC's head of editorial standards Roger Mahony said Dr Kandiah's comments 'went beyond' what is expected of its Thought For The Day segment. Mr Mahony said: 'I have concluded that, while its reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective is broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language it used went beyond that. 'I have asked for the two references to xenophobia to be edited from the programme on BBC Sounds. Please accept my apology for their original inclusion.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Charity boss offers ‘olive branch' to Jenrick in migration comments row
A refugee charity boss who suggested the shadow justice secretary is xenophobic has said he wants the pair to work together to de-escalate fear and anger over migration 'rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment'. Krish Kandiah, a director of Sanctuary Foundation which has previously helped refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan, said he was offering an 'olive branch' to Robert Jenrick. During a BBC broadcast earlier this week, Mr Kandiah claimed Mr Jenrick had echoed 'fear of the stranger', adding: 'The technical name for this is xenophobia.' The BBC apologised to Mr Jenrick and has since removed references to xenophobia from the programme. The Conservative politician had accused the broadcaster of thinking it was 'acceptable to smear millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears about undocumented men entering illegally'. Mr Kandiah's comments, made in the Thought for the Day section of the BBC Radio Four Today programme, followed a piece Mr Jenrick had published in the Mail on Sunday. The Tory MP wrote: '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.' Mr Kandiah previously appeared to double down on his comments, posting the original audio from his broadcast online and urging people to 'take a listen and let me know what I am wrong about factually?' On Thursday, he took to social media with a direct plea to Mr Jenrick. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he posted: 'Olive branch offered … Mr Jenrick, I want your daughters and mine to be able to walk down the road safely and without fear. I worked with you when you were housing minister and the UK welcomed over 200,000 people from Hong Kong. 'I was grateful for your support and compassion during that time. I would love to find a way we could work together to de-escalate the fear and anger many are feeling in our country. 'I believe we need to focus on the real challenges that are making people worried – housing, jobs and the cost of living – rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment.' Mr Jenrick's team has been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charity boss offers ‘olive branch' to Jenrick in migration comments row
A refugee charity boss who suggested the shadow justice secretary is xenophobic has said he wants the pair to work together to de-escalate fear and anger over migration 'rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment'. Krish Kandiah, a director of Sanctuary Foundation which has previously helped refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan, said he was offering an 'olive branch' to Robert Jenrick. During a BBC broadcast earlier this week, Mr Kandiah claimed Mr Jenrick had echoed 'fear of the stranger', adding: 'The technical name for this is xenophobia.' The BBC apologised to Mr Jenrick and has since removed references to xenophobia from the programme. The Conservative politician had accused the broadcaster of thinking it was 'acceptable to smear millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears about undocumented men entering illegally'. Mr Kandiah's comments, made in the Thought for the Day section of the BBC Radio Four Today programme, followed a piece Mr Jenrick had published in the Mail on Sunday. The Tory MP wrote: '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.' Mr Kandiah previously appeared to double down on his comments, posting the original audio from his broadcast online and urging people to 'take a listen and let me know what I am wrong about factually?' On Thursday, he took to social media with a direct plea to Mr Jenrick. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he posted: 'Olive branch offered … Mr Jenrick, I want your daughters and mine to be able to walk down the road safely and without fear. I worked with you when you were housing minister and the UK welcomed over 200,000 people from Hong Kong. 'I was grateful for your support and compassion during that time. I would love to find a way we could work together to de-escalate the fear and anger many are feeling in our country. 'I believe we need to focus on the real challenges that are making people worried – housing, jobs and the cost of living – rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment.' Mr Jenrick's team has been contacted for comment.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Theologian in Jenrick xenophobia row says pair ‘could work together'
The theologian who accused Robert Jenrick of xenophobia on the BBC has invited the shadow justice minister to work with him to ease tensions over migration rather than 'ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment'. Dr Krish Kandiah's comments on Radio 4's Thought for the Day, raising concerns about Jenrick's remarks about the safety of his daughters because of small boat arrivals, caused a row after a complaint from the shadow justice secretary, with the item being retrospectively edited by the BBC. Kandiah expressed concern about the current atmosphere relating to migration and said he was extending an olive branch to Jenrick in the hope the two men could work together on the issue. The initial remarks by Kandiah, who heads the Sanctuary Foundation refugee charity, prompted an angry response from Jenrick. The BBC said it had removed 'some of the language used' by Kandiah from a version of Thought for the Day posted online, saying it was not appropriate for the faith-based radio segment. In his statement, Kandiah said: 'Mr Jenrick, I want your daughters and mine to be able to walk down the road safely and without fear. I worked with you when you were housing minister and the UK welcomed over 200,000 people from Hong Kong. 'I was grateful for your support and compassion during that time. I would love to find a way we could work together to de-escalate the fear and anger many are feeling in our country. I believe we need to focus on the real challenges that are making people worried – housing, jobs and the cost of living – rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment.' In last weekend's Mail on Sunday, Jenrick cited a series of recent crimes he said had been committed by asylum seekers, writing: 'When I see these stories, I can't help but think that it could have been one of my three young daughters. I certainly don't want my children to share a neighbourhood with immigrant men with backward views who broke into Britain illegally, and about whom we know next to nothing.' In his Thought for the Day contribution, Kandiah quoted this passage from Jenrick, adding: 'These words echo a fear many have absorbed. Fear of the stranger. The technical name for this is xenophobia.' While the government has not criticised Jenrick's tone, and say the current row is a matter for the BBC, some MPs and others have said Kandiah's description was accurate. The Labour MP John McDonnell said: 'Jenrick has become the byword for political opportunism. There is no prejudice he won't pander to and no harm to our community he won't risk to further his political career.' Siân Berry, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion and a former co-leader of the party, condemned Jenrick for his comments and the government for not speaking out against them. 'It is 100% xenophobia, drawing on stereotypes to create unnecessary and inaccurate fears,' she said. 'If you can't call that xenophobic or racist without the person in question kicking off at you, then I don't know what we've learned from the last 80 years. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'Robert Jenrick knows exactly what he's doing when he is pushing these buttons, and he does need to be called out on it by everybody possible. I'm daily frustrated by the fact that the Labour government is playing along and not standing up for real British values. 'What is [a] Labour government for if it isn't to create a political discourse that backs up what British values really stand for. We're not a country that rejects immigrants in the way that some people on the right and the far right would like us to.' Jacqueline McKenzie, the head of immigration and asylum at Leigh Day solicitors, called Jenrick's comments 'appalling'. She said: 'Not only are his comments xenophobic and without substance, but this is the sort of language that fuels racist tension in an otherwise cohesive society and causes the sorts of attacks on migrants and those who work with them as we are now seeing, and which fans the flames which led to last summer's riots. 'It is irresponsible for a senior member of the opposition to make such statements. Whereas there are a few high profile cases of asylum seekers who have been arrested for sexual offences, this is not at all representative of those who claim asylum, the vast majority of whom go on to prove that they have fled persecution.' Jenrick's office has been contacted for comment.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Theologian behind Jenrick xenophobia row says they ‘could work together'
The theologian who accused Robert Jenrick of xenophobia on the BBC has invited the shadow justice minister to work with him to ease tensions over migration rather than 'ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment'. Dr Krish Kandiah's comments on Radio 4's Thought for the Day, raising concerns about Jenrick's remarks about the safety of his daughters because of small boat arrivals, caused a row after a complaint from the shadow justice secretary, with the item being retrospectively edited by the BBC. Kandiah expressed concern about the current atmosphere relating to migration and said he was extending an olive branch to Jenrick in the hope that the two men could work together on the issue. The initial remarks by Kandiah, who heads the Sanctuary Foundation, a refugee charity, prompted an angry response from Jenrick. The BBC said it had removed 'some of the language used' by Kandiah from a version of Thought for the Day posted online, saying it was not appropriate for the faith-based radio segment. In his statement, Kandiah said: 'Mr Jenrick, I want your daughters and mine to be able to walk down the road safely and without fear. I worked with you when you were housing minister and the UK welcomed over 200,000 people from Hong Kong. 'I was grateful for your support and compassion during that time. I would love to find a way we could work together to de-escalate the fear and anger many are feeling in our country. I believe we need to focus on the real challenges that are making people worried – housing, jobs and the cost of living – rather than ramping up anti-immigrant sentiment.' In last weekend's Mail on Sunday, Jenrick cited a series of recent crimes he said had been committed by asylum seekers, writing: 'When I see these stories, I can't help but think that it could have been one of my three young daughters. I certainly don't want my children to share a neighbourhood with immigrant men with backward views who broke into Britain illegally, and about whom we know next to nothing.' In his Thought for the Day contribution, Kandiah quoted this passage from Jenrick, adding: 'These words echo a fear many have absorbed. Fear of the stranger. The technical name for this is xenophobia.' While the government has not criticised Jenrick's tone, and say the current row is a matter for the BBC, some MPs and others have said Kandiah's description was accurate. The Labour MP John McDonnell said: 'Jenrick has become the byword for political opportunism. There is no prejudice he won't pander to and no harm to our community he won't risk to further his political career.' Siân Berry, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion and a former co-leader of the party, condemned both Jenrick for his comments and the government for not speaking out against them. 'It is 100% xenophobia, drawing on stereotypes to create unnecessary and inaccurate fears,' she said. 'If you can't call that xenophobic or racist without the person in question kicking off at you, then I don't know what we've learned from the last 80 years. 'Robert Jenrick knows exactly what he's doing when he is pushing these buttons, and he does need to be called out on it by everybody possible. I'm daily frustrated by the fact that the Labour government is playing along and not standing up for real British values. 'What is [a] Labour government for if it isn't to create a political discourse that backs up what British values really stand for. We're not a country that rejects immigrants in the way that some people on the right and the far right would like us to.' Jacqueline McKenzie, the head of immigration and asylum at Leigh Day solicitors, called Jenrick's comments 'appalling'. She said: 'Not only are his comments xenophobic and without substance, but this is the sort of language that fuels racist tension in an otherwise cohesive society and causes the sorts of attacks on migrants and those who work with them as we are now seeing, and which fans the flames which led to last summer's riots. 'It is irresponsible for a senior member of the opposition to make such statements. Whereas there are a few high profile cases of asylum seekers who have been arrested for sexual offences, this is not at all representative of those who claim asylum, the vast majority of whom go on to prove that they have fled persecution.' Jenrick's office has been contacted for comment.
