The new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has sparked fury after insisting that mass migration is not a threat to Britain.
Mary-Ann Stephenson was appointed chair of the commission in December, but has already caused anger after warning against "demonising" migrants.
"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 – 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," Ms Stephenson said.
The chair also added that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which Reform and the Tories clearly advocate quitting, "protects all of us", and urged the Government not to walk away.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp took to social media to slam Dr Stephenson's comments as a "disgrace".
"Once again, the left tries paint those opposed to mass immigration and illegal immigration as racist," Mr Philp said.
"Mass migration with no integration has undermined social cohesion, sex crimes by foreign nationals are up 62 per cent, foreign criminals and illegal immigrants routinely abuse human rights, modern slavery and asylum laws to stay in the UK. This nonsense has to end."
Meanwhile, the Centre for Migration said: "Nothing from EHRC on the Pakistani rape gangs, or the threats posed to women and girls by illegal migration. ‘Human rights’ for the world, but not for Brits it seems…"
Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Mary-Ann Stephenson, has sparked fury after insisting that mass migration is not a threat to Britain
| PALabour is currently reviewing human rights law in order to make it easier to deport individuals. Article 3, prohibition on torture or inhuman or degrading treatment, and Article 8, the right to family life, are being considered in the Government's plans to overhaul the system.
This move appears to be an alternative to leaving the ECHR, which Dr Stephenson described as "really important" because it was incorporated into the UK’s Human Rights Act and said leaving would weaken the rights everyone depends on.
Paola Diana, of the Women’s Policy Centre, told GB News that illegal migration has "tangible consequences" for vulnerable groups, "particularly women and girls."
"The British public overwhelmingly recognises this reality, with recent polling showing that a vast majority want violent illegal migrants deported and believe illegal migration negatively affects women’s safety," Ms Diana said.
"I reject any attempt to dismiss legitimate safety concerns as mere 'demonisation' of migrants. Women and girls are disproportionately at risk from violent criminals, and this risk is exacerbated when borders are not secure and systems are overwhelmed.
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Chris Philp bashed the comments from Mary-Ann Stephenson as 'a disgrace'
| PA"The priority of any responsible Government must be protecting the public and preventing hideous crimes; that is not demonisation, it is responsibility.
"That is not fear-mongering; it is the public mandate. That is not political posturing; it is leadership. I am afraid the new equality watchdog is not talking as a leader; she is only being naive about a grave issue of public safety."
Dr Stephenson's comments come as a new YouGov study commissioned by the Women’s Policy Centre and shared exclusively with GB News, showed the public's true support for the deportation of illegal migrants.
According to the data, 93 per cent of Britons support the deportation of illegal migrants who are guilty of rape and other violent crimes.
This was compounded by 67 per cent of respondents saying the small boats crisis was threatening women’s safety across the country.
Additionally, 99 per cent of Reform and Conservative voters backed deportations of illegal migrants convicted of rape and violent crimes, with 92 and 93 per cent of Labour and Lib Dem voters agreeing.
Political commentator Suzanne Evans questioned Sir Keir Starmer's decision to appoint Mary-Ann Stephenson
|GB NEWS
Dr Stephenson was appointed chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission earlier this month, with Sir Keir Starmer giving the green light.
Political commentator Suzanne Evans questioned why the Prime Minister would appoint a chair with views that appear to contrast with his "smash the gangs" rhetoric.
"[Doctor Stephenson] went so far as to compare those who criticised refugees to peddling hostile politics, racist rhetoric and the demonising language of the past," Ms Evans said on the People's Channel on Monday.
"This is not unusual for Doctor Stephenson. It is her first major intervention since she was appointed.
"It does make you wonder why a Prime Minister who says he wants to smash the gangs and stop the boats, actually appointed someone like this to this particular quango.
"But that's what he did, it was on his say-so that she was appointed."
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