A row has erupted between the Tories and the BBC after a Today programme contributor accused Robert Jenrick of “xenophobia”.

Theologian and author Krish Kandiah hit out at the shadow justice secretary during the Radio 4 show’s religious ‘Thought For The Day’ slot this morning.

He condemned Jenrick over a Mail on Sunday article in which he was quoted attacking asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on small boats .

Kandiah said: ”[Jenrick] 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’.

“These words echo a fear many have absorbed – fear of the stranger. The technical term for this is xenophobia. All phobias are, by definition, irrational. Nevertheless, they do

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