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Keir Starmer has criticized the shadow justice secretary's statements about not seeing another white face in parts of Birmingham, stating the MP was difficult to regard credibly.

Leadership Campaign Accusations

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 criticized for igniting a wave of divisive sentiment after he doubled down on his complaint despite criticism from individuals including the former Conservative mayor of the region, the former mayor.

Community Rejection and Support

The prime minister, who did not directly engage the statements, said he had agreed with Andy Street's criticisms of Jenrick.

• Street had stated to BBC Newsnight the comments were incorrect and portrayed Handsworth 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 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 Divisions

Mel Stride became the initial high-ranking Conservative to disassociate from Jenrick over the statements, telling a Politico fringe event that they were phrases I would have avoided.

Jenrick repeatedly informed 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 we have to have as a country about integration.

When a reporter put it to him that his comments could embolden extremist organizations, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd inquiry.

Original Statements

In his initial comments, the MP said the area was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. Specifically, in the 90 minutes he was recording in the area 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.