BBC edits Today Programme after guest’s comments about shadow justice secretary spark row

The BBC has issued an apology after a contributor to Radio 4’s Today programme accused shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick of “xenophobia” during the Thought for the Day segment.

The comments came from theologian and author Dr Krish Kandiah, founder of the refugee charity The Sanctuary Foundation. In his broadcast on Wednesday, Dr Kandiah referred to a Mail on Sunday article in which Jenrick had written that he would not want his daughters “to share a neighbourhood with men from backwards countries who broke into Britain illegally and about whom you know next to nothing.”

“These words echo a fear many have absorbed – fear of the stranger,” Dr Kandiah told listeners. “The technical name for this is xenophobia. All phobias are, by definition, irrational. Nevertheless, they have a huge impact.” He went on to link such fears to protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, saying they had deepened divisions in communities over the past year.

The remarks prompted an immediate response from Jenrick, who has three daughters aged 10, 12, and 14. Posting on social media, he said: “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.”

In a statement, the BBC said the Thought for the Day reflection was “broadly in line with expectations” but acknowledged “some of the language it used went beyond that” and apologised for its inclusion.

The broadcaster temporarily removed Wednesday’s Today episode from BBC Sounds, later uploading an edited version with three sentences removed from the Thought for the Day section. According to the BBC, the issue was not about the broader message but about “the inclusion of an opinion in a place where it was inappropriate,” rather than judging the merits of the opinion itself.

Thought for the Day, which sits within the Today programme but is overseen by the BBC’s religion department, features contributors from a range of faith backgrounds reflecting on current events from a spiritual or moral perspective.

The original remarks followed Jenrick’s weekend article, in which he also described migrant Channel crossings as “a national security emergency” and expressed sympathy with “the mothers and fathers peacefully protesting outside asylum hotels who have been pushed to breaking point.”

His piece comes amid continuing political and public debate over migration. More than 27,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, according to government figures. While such arrivals represent only a small proportion of overall immigration, the crossings have been a focal point for heated political exchanges.

In 2024, an estimated 948,000 people arrived in the UK expecting to stay for at least a year, while around 517,000 people left during the same period.

Dr Kandiah’s intervention highlights the tension between political rhetoric and charitable advocacy on migration. His charity, The Sanctuary Foundation, works to support refugees and promote community integration, often challenging negative perceptions of asylum seekers.

The BBC’s swift apology and decision to edit the segment underscore the sensitivity around political impartiality, especially during high-profile news slots. Thought for the Day has, in the past, faced criticism from across the political spectrum when contributors’ remarks were perceived as too partisan.

For Jenrick, the exchange adds another layer to his public stance on immigration enforcement and community safety. For the BBC, it serves as a reminder of the fine line Thought for the Day contributors must walk when commenting on divisive political issues in a religiously themed slot.