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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's statements about the lack of white faces in parts of Birmingham, stating the MP was difficult to regard credibly.

Leadership Campaign Accusations

The prime minister implied that Jenrick's comments were part of a covert Tory leadership campaign and asserted he did not believe they accurately reflected 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 accused of fuelling a wave of divisive sentiment after he reiterated his remarks despite criticism from individuals including the former Conservative mayor of the region, the former mayor.

Local Response and Support

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

• The former mayor had told the media the comments were incorrect and described Handsworth as a very integrated place.
• I think that what Andy Street said was right, the prime minister said. Andy Street obviously was mayor for a long time and knows the area very very well.

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

But she also told the program: 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.

Internal Divisions

Mel Stride became the first senior Tory to distance himself from Jenrick over the comments, informing a gathering that they were phrases I would have avoided.

The MP repeatedly informed journalists at the conference that he stood by the remarks and did not retract them as it would be wrong to end a crucial discussion that we have to have as a country about integration.

When a Sky News journalist put it to him that his comments could encourage far-right groups, Jenrick said it was an absolutely disgraceful and ridiculous inquiry.

Initial 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 filming news there he observed no other white individuals.

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.