An Border Force vessel delivers migrants to Dover port after intercepting a small boat crossing on December 17, 2025 in Dover, England.

Politicians have been urged to stop “demonising” migrants by the country’s new equalities chief.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, the new chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) told The Times politicians are making life “very, very difficult” for ethnic minorities.

She said: “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.”

She noted that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) would leave the country without legal safeguards which “protect all of us”, too.

Part of the UK’s Human Rights Act, the ECHR has become a sticking point in recent months amid rising concerns over immigration and blamed for holding up potential deportations.

The legislation offers everyone the right to a private and family life, and enshrines the prohibition of torture........

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