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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 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 area of the Birmingham district.

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 criticized for igniting a fire of toxic nationalism after he reiterated his complaint despite criticism from figures including the ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands, the former mayor.

Community Response and Support

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

• The former mayor had stated to BBC Newsnight the remarks were wrong 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.

Kemi Badenoch, defended Jenrick, saying he had made a factual statement 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.

Party Disagreements

The shadow chancellor became the initial high-ranking Conservative to distance himself from Jenrick 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 stood by the comments and did not retract 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 remarks could embolden far-right groups, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd inquiry.

Original Statements

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