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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's statements about not seeing another white face in areas of Handsworth, stating the politician was hard to take seriously.

Political Ambitions Claims

Starmer suggested that Jenrick's observations were part of a stealth Tory bid for leadership and said he did not believe they painted a true picture the neighborhood of Handsworth.

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

The shadow justice secretary has been accused of fuelling a fire of toxic nationalism after he reiterated his remarks despite criticism from individuals including the former Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

Community Rejection and Support

The prime minister, who did not directly engage the statements, said he had supported Street's objections of Jenrick.

• The former mayor had told BBC Newsnight the comments were incorrect and portrayed Handsworth as a highly cohesive community.
• I think that what Andy Street said was right, Starmer said. Andy Street obviously was mayor for a long time and knows the area very very well.

The Conservative leader, defended him, saying he had made a factual statement and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

But she also told the program: In my opinion, the discussion should not focus on the number or appearance of individuals seen on streets.

Party Divisions

The shadow chancellor became the first senior Tory to disassociate from Jenrick over the statements, telling a Politico fringe event that they were not words that I would have used.

The MP repeatedly told interviewers at the conference that he supported the comments and did not resile from them as it would be wrong to shut down an important debate that we have to have as a country about integration.

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

Initial Remarks

In his initial comments, Jenrick said Handsworth was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. Specifically, in the 90 minutes he was filming news there he observed no other white individuals.

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.