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Keir Starmer has criticized 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 his observations were part of a stealth Tory leadership campaign and said he did not believe they painted a true picture the neighborhood 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 reiterated his complaint despite criticism from individuals including the ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

Community Response and Defense

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

• Street had told the media the comments were incorrect and portrayed the area as a very integrated place.
• I think that what Andy Street said was right, the prime minister said. Having served as mayor for an extended period, Andy Street possesses deep familiarity with the locality.

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

But she also told 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 distance himself from his colleague over the comments, telling a gathering that they were not words that I would have used.

The MP repeatedly informed journalists at the conference 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 social cohesion.

When a Sky News journalist put it to him that his remarks could embolden extremist organizations, he said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd question.

Original Statements

In his original remarks, Jenrick said the area was among the least cohesive locations I have visited. In fact, in the 90 minutes 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.