Overview

• The Guardian published audio from a 14 March Conservative Association dinner in which Robert Jenrick described Handsworth as “as close as I’ve come to a slum,” called it poorly integrated, and said he “didn’t see another white face” during a 90‑minute visit to film on litter.
• On Tuesday he told BBC Radio 5 Live he would not shy away from the issue, linked recent violence in Manchester to failures of cohesion, and reiterated that his point was not about skin colour or faith.
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended him as making a factual observation taken out of context and rejected claims of racism, while former West Midlands mayor Andy Street said Jenrick was wrong about Handsworth.
• Birmingham figures condemned the remarks, with council leader John Cotton calling them racist and saying Jenrick is not welcome, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker calling them disgraceful, and the Bishop of Birmingham warning they risk stirring division.
• Official data cited in reports shows about 9% of Handsworth residents are white, and critics pointed to austerity, HMOs and a recent bin strike to explain street conditions, as Labour’s Anna Turley and MP Ayoub Khan pressed Jenrick to explain himself during the Tory conference.