🔗 Share this article

The Prime Minister has condemned the shadow justice secretary's statements about not seeing another white face in areas of Handsworth, stating the politician was difficult to regard credibly.

Political Ambitions Accusations

The prime minister suggested that his observations were linked to a stealth Tory bid for leadership and said he did not believe they accurately reflected 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 doubled down on his remarks despite criticism from figures including the ex-Tory mayor of the region, Andy Street.

Local Response and Support

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

• Street had stated to the media the remarks were incorrect and portrayed the area 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.

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

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

Mel Stride became the initial high-ranking Conservative to distance himself from his colleague over the comments, informing a Politico fringe event that they were not words that I would have used.

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 Sky News journalist put it to him that his comments could embolden far-right groups, Jenrick said it was an completely unacceptable and absurd question.

Original Remarks

In his original remarks, Jenrick said the area was among the least cohesive locations I have visited. Specifically, in the hour and a half 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.