New equalities boss warns against ‘demonisation’ of migrants in UK
Why the ‘demonisation’ of migrants could harm people in the UK
- Britain's new equalities watchdog chair, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, has warned that the "demonisation" of migrants can make life "very, very difficult" for ethnic minority UK citizens.
- Dr Stephenson stated it would be a "mistake" for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a policy supported by Reform UK and the Conservatives.
- She criticised misleading media coverage of human rights cases, citing the widely misreported "chicken nuggets" case as an example.
- Dr Stephenson highlighted positive applications of the ECHR, including its role in the John Worboys black cab rapist case.
- While the government is reviewing human rights law to ease deportations, the Council of Europe is also exploring reforms to the ECHR to address migration challenges, with a new declaration expected in 2026.