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Keir Starmer has criticized Robert Jenrick's statements about not seeing another white face in areas of Handsworth, stating the politician was difficult to regard credibly.

Leadership Campaign Accusations

The prime minister suggested that Jenrick's observations were linked to a stealth Tory bid for leadership and asserted he did not believe they accurately reflected the neighborhood of the Birmingham district.

I find it difficult to regard Robert Jenrick's statements as credible; he's obviously continuing his leadership campaign.

Jenrick has been criticized for igniting a wave of divisive sentiment after he reiterated his complaint despite backlash from figures including the former Conservative mayor of the region, Andy Street.

Community Response and Support

Starmer, who did not directly engage the statements, said he had agreed with Street's criticisms of the MP.

• The former mayor had told the media the remarks were incorrect and portrayed Handsworth as a very integrated place.
• I think that what Andy Street said was right, the prime minister said. Andy Street obviously was mayor for a long time and knows the area very very well.

Kemi Badenoch, defended Jenrick, saying he had made a truthful observation and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

However, she added on BBC Breakfast: In my opinion, the discussion should not focus on the number or appearance of individuals seen on streets.

Internal Divisions

Mel Stride became the first senior Tory to disassociate from Jenrick over the comments, informing a Politico fringe event that they were phrases I would have avoided.

Jenrick repeatedly informed journalists at the conference that he stood by the remarks and did not retract them as it would be wrong to shut down an important debate that the nation needs to engage in about social cohesion.

When a reporter suggested that his remarks could embolden far-right groups, Jenrick said it was an absolutely disgraceful and ridiculous inquiry.

Original Statements

In his initial comments, the MP said the area was among the least cohesive locations I have visited. Specifically, in the 90 minutes he was filming news there he 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. That’s not the right way we want to live as a country.