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Keir Starmer has criticized Robert Jenrick's statements about the lack of white faces in areas of Handsworth, suggesting the MP was hard to take seriously.

Leadership Campaign Accusations

The prime minister implied that his observations were linked to a stealth Conservative bid for leadership and said he did not believe they painted a true picture the neighborhood of the Birmingham district.

It’s quite hard to take anything that Robert Jenrick says seriously; he’s clearly still running his leadership campaign.

The shadow justice secretary has been criticized for igniting a fire of toxic nationalism after he doubled down on his remarks despite backlash from figures including the ex-Tory mayor of the region, Andy Street.

Community Response and Defense

Starmer, who avoided directly addressing the comments, said he had supported Street's objections of Jenrick.

• Street had stated to BBC Newsnight the comments were wrong 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, supported him, saying he had made a truthful observation and that there was nothing wrong with making observations.

However, she added on the program: 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 disassociate from Jenrick over the statements, informing a Politico fringe event that they were not words that I would have used.

The MP repeatedly told interviewers at the conference that he stood by the comments 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 integration.

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

Original Statements

In his initial comments, 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 didn’t see another white face.

This is not the nation I desire to reside in. I prefer a country with proper integration. Skin color or religion is not the issue—naturally not. However, I advocate for people coexisting together, not leading separate existences. That is not the ideal lifestyle for our country.