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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's remarks about not seeing another white face in parts of Birmingham, suggesting the MP was hard to take seriously.

Leadership Campaign Claims

Starmer implied that his observations were linked to a covert Tory bid for leadership and asserted he did not believe they painted a true picture 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 wave of divisive sentiment after he doubled down on his remarks despite criticism from figures including the former Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

Local Response and Support

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

• The former mayor had told BBC Newsnight the remarks were wrong and portrayed 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 Jenrick, saying he had made a factual statement and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

However, she added on BBC Breakfast: I don’t think this is where the debate should be, about how many faces people see on the street and what they look like.

Party Disagreements

Mel Stride became the first senior Tory to disassociate from his colleague over the comments, informing a Politico fringe event that they were phrases I would have avoided.

Jenrick repeatedly informed interviewers at the event that he stood by the comments and did not resile from them as it would be wrong to shut down an important debate that the nation needs to engage in about social cohesion.

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

Initial Statements

In his original remarks, the MP 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 observed no other white individuals.

This is not the nation I desire to reside in. I prefer a country with proper integration. Skin color or religion is not the issue—naturally not. However, I advocate for people coexisting together, not leading separate existences. That is not the ideal lifestyle for our country.