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Keir Starmer has criticized Robert Jenrick's remarks about the lack of white faces in parts of Birmingham, suggesting the politician was difficult to regard credibly.

Political Ambitions Claims

The prime minister suggested that Jenrick's observations were part of a covert Tory bid for leadership and asserted he did not believe they painted a true picture the area of the Birmingham district.

It’s quite hard to take anything that Robert Jenrick says seriously; he’s clearly still running his leadership campaign.

Jenrick has been accused of fuelling a fire of toxic nationalism after he doubled down on his complaint despite backlash from figures including the ex-Tory mayor of the region, Andy Street.

Community Rejection and Defense

The prime minister, who avoided directly addressing the statements, said he had supported Street's objections of the MP.

• Street had told the media the comments were wrong and described Handsworth as a highly cohesive community.
• 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.

The Conservative leader, supported him, saying he had made a factual statement and that there was no issue with noting realities.

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 initial high-ranking Conservative to disassociate from his colleague over the statements, informing 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 remarks 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 social cohesion.

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

Original Statements

In his initial comments, Jenrick said Handsworth was among the least cohesive locations I have visited. In fact, in the hour and a half he was recording in the area 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.