I'm Asian and I think Jenrick is right - former Dudley College lecturer says Handsworth has become a 'ghetto'
A leading Asian academic and writer from the West Midlands has backed Robert Jenrick's controversial comments about the Handsworth area of Birmingham.
Former Dudley College lecturer and ex-Birmingham poet laureate Roshan Doug, said the Birmingham suburb had become like a foreign country, that few people would wish to visit.
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Prof Doug, who has family in the Handsworth Wood area, said he did not feel safe when he visited Handsworth, particularly at night. He accused local councillors of being more concerned with Palestine than the problems affecting residents.
Shadow justice secretary Mr Jenrick found himself at the centre of controversy last week after a recording emerged of him criticising the lack of community integration in Handsworth.
West Midland mayor Richard Parker criticised Mr Jenrick for comparing Handsworth to a slum when he addressed members of Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association.
“It was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to," he told party members. "In fact, in the hour and a half I was filming news there I didn’t see another white face.
“That’s not the kind of country I want to live in. I want to live in a country where people are properly integrated. It’s not about the colour of your skin or your faith, of course it isn’t. But I want people to be living alongside each other, not parallel lives.”
Mayor Mr Parker branded the comments 'disgraceful', describing Handsworth as 'a community that is vibrant, is very welcoming, very hospitable, and full of generosity.'
