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Keir Starmer has condemned Robert Jenrick's statements about not seeing another white face in areas of Handsworth, suggesting the politician was hard to take seriously.

Leadership Campaign Claims

Starmer implied that Jenrick's comments were linked to a covert Conservative bid for leadership and said 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 accused of fuelling a fire of toxic nationalism after he reiterated his remarks despite criticism from individuals including the ex-Tory mayor of the region, Andy Street.

Local Rejection and Support

The prime minister, who avoided directly addressing the comments, said he had supported Street's objections of the MP.

• Street had told BBC Newsnight the remarks were incorrect and portrayed Handsworth as a highly cohesive community.
• 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.

Kemi Badenoch, supported him, saying he had made a factual statement and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

But she also told BBC Breakfast: In my opinion, the discussion should not focus on the number or appearance of individuals seen on streets.

Party Disagreements

Mel Stride became the first senior Tory to distance himself from Jenrick over the comments, informing a gathering that they were not words that I would have used.

The MP repeatedly informed interviewers at the conference that he stood by the comments and did not resile from 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 encourage far-right groups, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd question.

Initial Statements

In his original remarks, Jenrick said the area was among the least cohesive locations I have visited. In fact, in the hour and a half he was filming news there he observed no other white individuals.

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.