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Senior Tory MP Robert Jenrick has caused widespread outrage after describing Soho Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, as a "slum" and "one of the worst integrated places" he had ever witnessed. The comments, made at a Conservative Association dinner in March, were leaked by the media last week, causing outrage from residents, local leaders, and political leaders alike.

Shadow Justice Secretary Jenrick spent 90 minutes shooting a news report about littering in the region when he made the incendiary remarks. According to a report by the Daily Mail, he said, “I went to Handsworth in Birmingham… it was absolutely appalling. It's as close as I've come to a slum in this country.” He also claimed, “In the hour and a half I was filming the news there, I didn't see another white face. That's not the kind of country I want to live in.”

Handsworth Residents Refute 'Slum' Label

The comments have provoked widespread outrage from the local community. Residents and business owners insisted that Soho Road is a vibrant, diverse, and thriving area, contradicting Jenrick’s description. Data from Birmingham City Council shows that only 8.7 per cent of Handsworth’s population is white, with the majority being of Indian (2,736 residents) and Pakistani (2,962 residents) descent.

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Rishi Lothiyi, a British Indian consultant who grew up in Handsworth, told BBC that the MP must have been “drunk” to call the area poorly integrated. He and his white British wife, Kerry, described Soho Road as a “melting pot of cultures.”

Local business owners also challenged Jenrick’s remarks. Ranjit Singh, landlord of The Cross Guns pub, told the Daily Mail, “I see white people here all the time. We have lots of Irish and English customers. Everybody gets along around here.”

Community Leaders Condemn Remarks As Divisive

Political and community leaders have also denounced the remarks. Ayoub Khan, MP for Perry Barr, called them “repulsive” and “disingenuous,” warning of the undertones of racism. Bishop Desmond Jaddoo demanded a public apology, describing the comments as divisive and damaging to community cohesion. 

Jenrick defended his statements on The Telegraph’s Daily T podcast, arguing that some towns and cities have “pockets” that are largely segregated, and that he was simply making an observation. He said, “It did look like a slum. I didn’t see a mix of people on the streets. It was an observation.”

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He added, “I went to Handsworth in Birmingham the other day to do a video on litter and it was absolutely appalling. It's as close as I've come to a slum in this country. But the other thing I noticed there was that it was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to.”