'This Is Xenophobia': Robert Jenrick Attacked On Today Programme Over 'Backward Countries' Claim

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/689c4e8c180000fd928c5500.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Robert Jenrick at last year's Tory party conference." data-caption="Robert Jenrick at last year's Tory party conference." data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="via Associated Press" />Robert Jenrick at last year's Tory party conference.</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>A row has erupted between the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party/">Tories </a>and the BBC after a Today programme contributor accused <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/robert-jenrick/">Robert Jenrick</a> of “xenophobia”.</p><p>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.</p><p>He condemned Jenrick over a Mail on Sunday article in which he was quoted attacking asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/small-boat-crossings/">small boats</a>.</p><p>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’.</p><p>“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.”</p><p>He added: “Over the past year, xenophobia has fuelled angry protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, deepening divisions in our communities.”</p><p>Kandiah said there was no evidence to suggest immigrants pose a greater threat to children than people they already know.</p><p>“Fear, when