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The Prime Minister has condemned Robert Jenrick's statements about the lack of white faces in parts of Birmingham, suggesting the politician was hard to take seriously.

Political Ambitions Claims

The prime minister implied that his comments were part of a stealth Conservative leadership campaign and asserted he did not believe they painted a true picture 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 criticized for igniting a wave of divisive sentiment after he reiterated his remarks despite backlash from individuals including the former Conservative mayor of the region, Andy Street.

Community Response and Defense

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

• The former mayor had told BBC Newsnight the remarks were incorrect and described Handsworth as a highly cohesive community.
• In my view, Andy Street's comments were accurate, the prime minister 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 truthful observation and that there was no issue with noting realities.

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 Divisions

The shadow chancellor became the initial high-ranking Conservative to distance himself from his colleague over the statements, informing a gathering that they were phrases I would have avoided.

Jenrick repeatedly told journalists at the event that he stood by the comments and did not retract them as it would be wrong to end a crucial discussion that we have to have as a country about social cohesion.

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

Original Statements

In his initial comments, Jenrick said the area was one of the worst integrated places I’ve ever been to. In fact, in the 90 minutes he was recording in the area he didn’t see another white face.

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.