Mel Stride Slaps Down Robert Jenrick Over 'No White Faces' Remark As Tory Splits Erupt

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68e536251800006b125d1684.jpg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Mel Stride and Robert Jenrick when they were in cabinet together" data-caption="Mel Stride and Robert Jenrick when they were in cabinet together" data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="Leon Neal via Getty Images" />Mel Stride and Robert Jenrick when they were in cabinet together</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/mel-stride/">Mel Stride</a> has slapped down <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/robert-jenrick/">Robert Jenrick</a> after he complained about not seeing a “white face” during a visit to Birmingham.</p><p>The shadow chancellor broke ranks with Tory leader <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/kemi-badenoch/">Kemi Badenoch</a>, who had earlier defended Jenrick over the remark.</p><p>The controversy has overshadowed the third day of the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party/">Conservatives’</a> conference in Manchester.</p><p>In a secret recording obtained by The Guardian, the shadow justice secretary told a Conservative dinner: “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.</p><p>“But the other thing I noticed there was that it was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. In fact, in the hour and a half I was filming news there I didn’t see another white face.”</p><p>Asked about Jenrick’s comments, Badenoch told <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bbc-breakfast/">BBC Breakfast</a> he had made a “factual statement” and insisted there was “nothing wron