Moment Robert Jenrick humiliates BBC live on air with one brutal remark

Moment Robert Jenrick humiliates BBC live on air with one brutal remark The politician discussed ITV's undercover investigation into Reform UK on BBC Radio 4. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Jennie Buzaglo , Showbiz Reporter 16:03, Sat, Oct 17, 2026 Updated: 16:16, Sat, Oct 17, 2026 Robert Jenrick humiliated the BBC as he was challenged about concerns surrounding the vetting procedures by Reform UK (Image: Getty) Robert Jenrick has launched a humiliating attack on the BBC after being challenged over concerns surrounding Reform UK's candidate vetting procedures. The MP for Newark appeared on BBC Radio 4 just days after ITV revealed it conducted a year-long undercover investigation into the party , which led to the suspension of councillors accused of expressing racist, sexist or extremist views. The investigation recorded Alan Feeney, deputy mayor of Solihull, referring to Asian homeowners as "parasites". It also revealed that an undercover reporter was advised by a local party chairman to delete social media posts supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson . The chairman subsequently encouraged the reporter to apply to stand as a Reform councillor. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The revelations have prompted fresh questions about the party's vetting procedures. Reform insisted it had "improved and prioritised its vetting procedures", while Jenrick argued that all parties have "bad apples". Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Appearing on BBC Radio 4 on Friday, Jenrick was questioned by presenter Anna Foster about Reform's vetting process, including the councillor who allegedly encouraged the reporter to delete his posts about Robinson. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT "That goes against the idea that Reform's vetting is robust and is weeding these people out," the radio presenter said. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT 😳 Wow! Robert Jenrick just turned the tables on the BBC live on air while being grilled over Reform’s candidate vetting.Asked about the ITV undercover exposé on some Reform councillors and candidates, Jenrick made the obvious point that there’s only so much any organisation can do when it comes to screening people. Then he flipped it straight back at the interviewer:“Look at the BBC for example. Can you now give a guarantee to your listeners this morning that no BBC presenter in the future will be exposed as a paedophile, as a number have been in the recent past? No, of course you can’t. Because you can’t know absolutely everything about every individual in your organisation.”Absolutely ruthless from Robert! 🔥Does he know something about someone at the BBC that the rest of us don’t? 🤔You can practically hear the panic behind the scenes. 😂Jenrick’s right, though. No amount of vetting can guarantee you know everything about every single person in a large organisation. That’s just reality. https://t.co/VLWabrBrO3 — J Stewart (@triffic_stuff_) October 16, 2026 Jenrick described Reform's vetting processes as "strong", adding that it is "improving all the time". He compared his party to the Conservatives, claiming "absolutely no vetting" takes place when choosing their local councillors. He argued that while Conservative MPs undergo vetting, some have still ended up in prison. Foster accused him of trying to deflect attention away from Reform, prompting Jenrick to plead with her to let him finish making his point. He went on to defend Nigel Farage 's remarks that it was impossible to "vet people for what they say in the future", arguing that there are limits to how thoroughly a person can be vetted in advance. "You cannot do an absolutely full safe procedure," he argued. Prince Harry and Meghan's 'half in, half out' move torn apart in humiliating on-air blow Labour councillor thrown off TalkTV as host fumes 'I give up' in grooming gang row Jenrick then made a controversial comparison to the BBC , asking Foster whether she could guarantee that someone working for the corporation would not be exposed as a paedophile in the future. "Look at the BBC for example. Can you now give a guarantee to your listeners this morning that no BBC presenter in the future will be exposed as a paedophile, as a number have been in the recent past?" he asked. "No, of course you can't. Because you can't know absolutely everything about every individual in your organisation." The once golden reputation of the BBC has been destroyed by a string of child sex scandals stretching back over half a century. Jimmy Savile , who worked for the BBC for decades , was exposed as being one of the world's most prolific paedophiles after his death in 2011. Police recorded 199 crimes across 17 force areas, including 31 allegations of rape, with the presenter expected to have abused an estimated 450 young victims. Jimmy Savile, who worked for the BBC for decades, was exposed as being one of the world's most prolific paedophiles (Image: Getty) Children's presenter and entertainer Rolf Harris was jailed five years and nine months in 2014 after he was convicted of 12 charges of indecent assault against four girls - including one aged seven. He worked for the BBC from 1952 until his career ended in 2013. BBC News presenter Huw Edwards was convicted of three charges of making indecent images of children in 2024. The court heard that he received 41 illegal images, including seven category A pictures, via WhatsApp from a convicted sex offender. He received a six-month prison sentence , suspended for two years and was placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years. Robert Jenrick BBC BBC Radio 4 Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments