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Keir Starmer has condemned Robert Jenrick's remarks about not seeing another white face in areas of Birmingham, suggesting the MP was difficult to regard credibly.

Political Ambitions Accusations

The prime minister implied that his comments were part of a stealth Tory leadership campaign 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 criticized for igniting a wave of divisive sentiment after he doubled down on his complaint despite criticism from figures including the ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

Local Rejection and Defense

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

• Street had told BBC Newsnight the comments were incorrect and described Handsworth as a very integrated place.
• In my view, Andy Street's comments were accurate, Starmer said. Andy Street obviously was mayor for a long time and knows the area very very well.

The Conservative leader, defended Jenrick, saying he had made a truthful observation and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

But she also told the program: 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 comments, informing a gathering that they were phrases I would have avoided.

The MP repeatedly told interviewers at the event that he stood by the remarks 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 remarks could embolden far-right groups, he said it was an absolutely disgraceful and ridiculous inquiry.

Original Statements

In his original remarks, the MP 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.