Dr. Mary-Ann Stephenson, the newly appointed chair of Britain’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has cautioned against portraying migration as a major threat to the United Kingdom. She emphasised that such framing contributes to the “demonisation of migrants” and creates difficulties for both migrants and ethnic minority communities living in the country. Her remarks come amid heated political debates over the UK’s relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), particularly in immigration cases.
The ECHR, incorporated into UK law through the Human Rights Act, has been criticised by right-wing politicians who claim it restricts deportations of illegal migrants. Both the Conservative Party and Reform UK have suggested leaving the treaty to strengthen border control. In contrast, the Labour government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has committed to staying within the ECHR while reviewing human rights laws to allow deportations in certain situations.
Stephenson stressed the importance of the convention, highlighting protections in Article 3, which prohibits torture or inhuman treatment, and Article 8, which safeguards family life. Some critics argue that these articles have made deportations harder, even when the risks abroad involve prison conditions or healthcare differences rather than true threats of torture. Research shows that successful human rights claims in these cases are rare, and media reporting often exaggerates their impact.
The EHRC chair explained that leaving the convention would weaken vital protections for everyone in the UK. She cited Supreme Court cases, including the John Worboys scandal and rulings preventing the forced separation of elderly couples needing care, to illustrate the ECHR’s importance in safeguarding human rights. Stephenson emphasised the need for honest discourse, warning that misrepresenting human rights cases fuels fear and hostility toward migrants.
Referencing research from Oxford University, she highlighted misleading reports such as the overturned “chicken nuggets” deportation story, which falsely suggested a child’s food preference affected a deportation ruling. Stephenson said, “Framing migration as causing huge risks to the country makes life very difficult not only for migrants but for ethnic minority British citizens too.”
Her comments coincide with ongoing discussions at the Council of Europe regarding treaty reforms, with a new political declaration expected in Moldova in May 2026. The remarks came on a day when another 803 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel, underlining the continuing challenges of managing migration.
The EHRC oversees rights and freedoms across England, Scotland, and Wales. Stephenson emphasised that maintaining the ECHR is critical for protecting all residents, ensuring legal accountability, and upholding human dignity, regardless of immigration status. She concluded that migration should be approached with fairness, compassion, and respect for the law, rather than fear or political rhetoric.