POLL OF THE DAY: Was Robert Jenrick right to complain about not 'seeing another white face' in Handsworth?
- Cast your vote on the biggest talking points of the day, every day at 12pm
- Final results will be announced in tomorrow's poll
Robert Jenrick has doubled down on comments complaining that he 'didn't see another white face' during a visit to an area of Birmingham.
The shadow justice secretary said he 'won't shy away' from issues of integration.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch defended him, saying she did not agree with accusations of racism and that there is 'nothing wrong with making observations'.
But former Tory mayor Andy Street said he was 'wrong' about Handsworth, while the Labour Party said his comments 'cross a red line'.
The Guardian obtained a recording of Mr Jenrick making the comments about a 90-minute visit to Handsworth earlier this year, before adding: 'That's not the kind of country I want to live in.'
Speaking at a dinner on March 14, he went on to say it was 'not about the colour of your skin or your faith', but about people 'living alongside each other'.
Asked if he had any regrets about his comments, Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 5 Live today: 'No, not at all and I won't shy away from these issues.'
Handsworth's population by ethnicity is 9 per cent white, 25 per cent Pakistani, 23 per cent Indian and 10 per cent Bangladeshi, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Mr Jenrick has been accused of racism over the comments – but what do you think? Was he right to make such a statement? Vote in the Daily Mail's latest poll.
In yesterday's poll, Mail readers were asked: 'Was it tasteless for Meghan to post a video of herself driving past the tunnel where Diana died?' Some 95 per cent of you said 'yes' and 5 per cent said 'no'.
Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick carry out media interviews in Manchester this morning
