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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's remarks about the lack of white faces in areas of Birmingham, suggesting the politician was difficult to regard credibly.

Leadership Campaign Claims

Starmer suggested that his observations were part of a stealth Conservative leadership campaign and asserted he did not believe they accurately reflected the area 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 accused of fuelling a wave of divisive sentiment after he doubled down on his remarks despite criticism from figures including the ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands, the former mayor.

Community Rejection and Defense

The prime minister, who avoided directly addressing the statements, said he had agreed with Andy Street's criticisms of Jenrick.

• The former mayor had told BBC Newsnight the comments were incorrect and portrayed the area as a highly cohesive community.
• In my view, Andy Street's comments were accurate, the prime minister said. Andy Street obviously was mayor for a long time and knows the area very very well.

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

Internal Disagreements

The shadow chancellor became the initial high-ranking Conservative to distance himself from his colleague over the comments, telling a Politico fringe event that they were not words that I would have used.

The MP repeatedly told interviewers at the event that he supported the comments and did not resile from them as it would be wrong to end a crucial discussion that we have to have as a country about integration.

When a Sky News journalist suggested that his comments could encourage extremist organizations, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd question.

Initial Statements

In his initial comments, the MP said Handsworth was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. In fact, 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.