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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's remarks about the lack of white faces in parts of Handsworth, suggesting the politician was hard to take seriously.

Leadership Campaign Claims

Starmer suggested that Jenrick's observations were part of a covert Tory leadership campaign and asserted he did not believe they accurately reflected the area of Handsworth.

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 complaint despite criticism from individuals including the ex-Tory mayor of the region, the former mayor.

Local Rejection and Defense

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

• Street had stated to BBC Newsnight the remarks were incorrect and portrayed the area 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, supported Jenrick, saying he had made a factual statement and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

However, she added on BBC Breakfast: 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 first senior Tory to disassociate from his colleague over the statements, telling a gathering that they were phrases I would have avoided.

Jenrick repeatedly informed interviewers at the event that he stood by the remarks 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 put it to him that his comments could encourage far-right groups, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd inquiry.

Initial Statements

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