UK leaving European convention on human rights would be a mistake, equalities chief warns

Mary-Ann Stephenson defends convention as ‘really important’ and warns against demonisation of migrants

Taking the UK out of a European human rights treaty to quell rightwing anger over immigration would be a mistake, the new head of Britain’s equalities watchdog has said, as she warned against the demonisation of people who migrate to the UK.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, who became chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in December, said the European convention on human rights (ECHR) was part of a framework that provides rights most people would agree were fundamental. But she said the tone of public conversation on it was often dangerous.