BBC apologises after Jenrick accused of xenophobia

The BBC has apologized after a Thought for the Day contributor accused Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick of xenophobia. The comment was made during a discussion on the government's policy to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. The contributor, who has not been named, suggested that Jenrick's criticism of the policy was motivated by xenophobia. The BBC acknowledged that the remark was inappropriate and unsubstantiated, and that it did not meet the broadcaster's standards of impartiality. Jenrick, a former Housing Secretary, had criticized the Rwanda policy, describing it as "deeply flawed" and "unworkable." The BBC has stated that it will review its processes to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. The incident has sparked a debate around the role of the BBC in maintaining impartiality and avoiding the use of unsubstantiated accusations, particularly in sensitive political discussions.