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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's remarks about the lack of white faces in parts of Handsworth, suggesting the MP was hard to take seriously.

Leadership Campaign Claims

Starmer suggested that his comments were linked to a stealth Conservative bid for leadership and said 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 fire of toxic nationalism after he reiterated his remarks despite criticism from individuals including the ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands, the former mayor.

Community Response and Support

Starmer, who did not directly engage the statements, said he had supported Street's objections of the MP.

• The former mayor had told the media the comments were incorrect and described the area as a very integrated place.
• I think that what Andy Street said was right, Starmer said. Having served as mayor for an extended period, Andy Street possesses deep familiarity with the locality.

The Conservative leader, 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 his colleague over the comments, telling a gathering that they were not words that I would have used.

The MP repeatedly informed journalists at the conference that he stood by the comments and did not retract them as it would be wrong to shut down an important debate that we have to have as a country about social cohesion.

When a reporter put it to him that his remarks could encourage far-right groups, he said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd question.

Initial Statements

In his initial comments, Jenrick said the area was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. Specifically, in the hour and a half 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.