‘Disgrace!’ Tories slam Keir Starmer’s equality chief over defence of mass migration

The Tories have condemned Keir Starmer’s human rights chief over comments she made defending mass immigration. Mary-Ann Stephenson, the head of of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, used her first public comments since taking up the job to condemn opponents of mass migration.

Ms Stephenson called for an “honest” discussion about immigration, and condemned the “demonisation” of migrants. “The creating [of] 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 head of the woke quango also attacked those calling for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), warning it would be a “mistake”.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded Ms Stephenson’s comments “a disgrace”.

He blasted: “These comments by the new Labour-appointed human rights chief are a disgrace. Once again, the left tries paint those opposed to mass immigration and illegal immigration as racist.

“Mass migration with no integration has undermined social cohesion. Sex crimes by foreign nationals are up 62% Foreign criminals and illegal immigrants routinely abuse human rights, modern slavery and asylum laws to stay in the UK.

“This nonsense has to end. It is completely wrong that Labour’s new human rights chief dismisses 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.”

Before her appointment Ms Stephenson called on Keir Starmer to abandon his pledge to smash people smuggling gangs helping illegal migrants cross the Channel.

She called for more asylum seekers to be allowed into the country, and to oppose the “hostile politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past”.

Nigel Farage hit back: “Reform believes we should deport terrorists, rapists and serious foreign criminals. The vast majority will agree with me that we must prioritise the rights of British people, whatever their ethnicity.”

41,000 illegal migrants have entered Britain this year, after a pre-Christmas surge over the past week.

Over 800 arrived on Saturday alone, following 497 on December 17th.

The Prime Minister has pledged to reform the ECHR, though critics say this is wishful thinking.