from Religion Media Centre
The BBC has apologised after Krish Kandiah’s “Thought for the Day” on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, described Robert Jenrick’s comment on asylum seekers as “xenophobia”.
He quoted from an article in the Mail on Sunday by Mr Jenrick, shadow justice minister, where he 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.”
Mr Kandiah went on to say: “These words echo a fear many have absorbed. Fear of the stranger. The technical name for this is xenophobia. All phobias are by definition irrational, nevertheless they have a huge impact”.
The BBC apologised saying: “Today’s episode of Thought for the Day contained reflections from a faith perspective on fear in society but has been edited to remove some of the language used and we apologise for its inclusion.”
The recording of the Today programme on BBC Sounds edited out the words about xenophobia.
Shortly after Thought for the Day was broadcast, Mr Jenrick posted on X: “On BBC Radio 4 this morning listeners were told that if you’re concerned about the threat of illegal migrants to your kids, you’re racist. Wrong. You’re a good parent.”
It’s reported that Radio 4’s head of editorial standards, Roger Mahony, wrote to Mr Jenrick to say he had removed two references to xenophobia from the programme and admitted that the language went beyond the segment’s scope.
The Guardian reports that Mr. Kandiah is distressed about the row and his intention was to make inclusive points about community cohesion. Last night, he posted a recording of his Thought for the Day on Twitter / X, saying “Take a listen and let me know what I am wrong about factually?”.
Thought for the Day is produced by the BBC Religion and Ethics department in Manchester.
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