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Keir Starmer has condemned Robert Jenrick's remarks about the lack of white faces in areas of Handsworth, stating the politician was difficult to regard credibly.

Political Ambitions Claims

Starmer implied that Jenrick's comments were linked to a stealth Conservative bid for leadership and said he did not believe they painted a true picture 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 complaint despite criticism from individuals including the ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

Community Response and Support

Starmer, who avoided directly addressing the comments, said he had agreed with Street's objections of Jenrick.

• Street had stated to the media the remarks were wrong 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.

Kemi Badenoch, defended him, saying he had made a factual statement and that there was no issue with noting realities.

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 Divisions

The shadow chancellor became the first senior Tory to disassociate from his colleague over the statements, telling a Politico fringe event that they were phrases I would have avoided.

The MP repeatedly informed interviewers at the conference that he stood by the remarks and did not retract 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 reporter put it to him that his comments could embolden far-right groups, he said it was an absolutely disgraceful and ridiculous inquiry.

Initial Remarks

In his original remarks, Jenrick said Handsworth 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 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.