UK Rights Chief Faces Backlash Over Criticism of ‘Demonisation of Migrants’
The new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Mary-Ann Stephenson, has sparked a political firestorm after expressing concern over the “demonisation” of migrants in the UK. The criticism from Stephenson, who assumed her post earlier this month, has drawn sharp rebukes from both the Conservative and Reform UK parties, highlighting deep divisions over immigration rhetoric and policy.
Stephenson’s comments came during an interview with PA Media, primarily focused on the European convention on human rights. However, she also stated, “I think it’s really important that we have honesty in the way that we talk about human rights, and that we also have a recognition that the demonisation of migrants, the creating this idea that migration causes huge risks for the country, can make the lives not just of migrants to the UK, but of ethnic minority UK citizens, very, very difficult.”
The remarks come amid a backdrop of increasing anti-migrant sentiment, particularly concerning the rising number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats. Critics point to what they describe as a surge in hostile commentary from right-wing media outlets and political figures. Much of this rhetoric, they argue, falsely links migration with criminality, often relying on unsubstantiated claims.
The Conservative party, since losing the recent election and undergoing a leadership change from Rishi Sunak to Kemi Badenoch, has been accused of amplifying this negative narrative. Badenoch herself recently implied, in response to the government’s violence against women and girls strategy, that migrants pose a greater threat to women than British men.
The controversy quickly escalated, with Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, weighing in. “Reform believes we should deport terrorists, rapists and serious foreign criminals,” Farage stated, adding, “The vast majority will agree with me that we must prioritise the rights of British people, whatever their ethnicity.”
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, delivered a more scathing response, labeling Stephenson’s comments “a disgrace.” He accused “the left” of attempting to portray opposition to immigration as racist, and asserted that “mass migration with no integration has undermined social cohesion.” Philp further claimed that “sex crimes by foreign nationals are up 62%,” alleging that foreign criminals and illegal immigrants “routinely abuse human rights, modern slavery and asylum laws to stay in the UK.” He dismissed Stephenson’s concerns as “nonsense,” arguing that she was dismissing “legitimate concerns about mass migration and crimes committed by foreign nationals – including the recent spate of rapes and sex attacks committed by small boat illegal immigrants.”
Stephenson’s appointment by the Labour government follows that of her predecessor, Lady Falkner, who was appointed by the previous Conservative administration. Prior to her role at the EHRC, Stephenson led the Women’s Budget Group, a feminist economic thinktank.
The incident underscores the increasingly polarized debate surrounding immigration in the UK and the challenges facing the new EHRC chair as she navigates this sensitive landscape. It also raises questions about the role of political rhetoric in shaping public perception and potentially exacerbating discrimination against both migrants and established ethnic minority communities.
