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Luton has 'no-go zones' for white people, claims MP

Martin HeathBedfordshire political reporter
Andrew Sinclair/BBC Close-up portrait of Blake Stephenson wearing round dark-framed glasses, a navy suit jacket, light blue shirt and patterned burgundy tie, photographed in an office setting. He is centered in the frame and looking toward the camera. The background is softly blurred, showing conference-room furniture, glass partitions, wall artwork and overhead lights. Reflections from computer screens are visible in the glasses. The image is brightly lit with shallow depth of field, keeping the subject in sharp focus while the office environment is out of focus.Andrew Sinclair/BBC
Blake Stephenson was speaking at a Conservative Party conference fringe event

A Conservative MP has defended claims he made during a debate that there are "no-go zones" in Luton where "white people won't go".

Blake Stephenson, who represents Mid Bedfordshire, was speaking during a fringe event about migration at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

He told the BBC that his comments were in response to a Luton resident who raised the issue, adding: "It reflects a reality that many people now feel that parts of the town are unwelcoming and unsafe."

One of Luton's Labour MPs has described the comments as "deeply irresponsible" - and the town's police and crime commissioner said he was "very angry".

The debate, entitled "From Boriswave to Brain Drain: How Can We Fix Migration?" was organised by the think tank, The Centre for Policy Studies.

Stephenson, a shadow Home Office minister, told the meeting he knew Luton well as he lived in a nearby village.

He said: "There are parts of that town - and unfortunately the police will tell you this - it can be a very dangerous place.

"There are parts where white people won't go, they are like no-go zones."

Getty Images Aerial of Luton town with rows of residential housing and tree-lined streets with the football ground in the top left cornerGetty Images
One of Luton's Labour MPs has described the comments as "deeply irresponsible"

He added that there were other towns in a similar situation and "we need to make sure we don't have ghettoes where there are no-go zones for anybody - the country is for all of us, not just certain communities."

He claimed that mass migration "has been an absolute disaster".

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Luton Borough Council, Amjid Ali, said: "The comments made about Luton by Blake Stephenson are simply unacceptable.

"There are no 'no-go zones' in Luton where white people cannot or will not go. That is not the Luton I know, and it is not supported by the facts."

Amjid Ali Head-and-shoulders portrait of Amjid Ali seated indoors, wearing a dark grey three-piece suit, white shirt and bright orange tie. He has short dark hair and a full beard and is facing the camera. A small lapel pin is attached to the suit jacket. The background is softly lit and out of focus, featuring wooden shelving with framed photographs and books, a hanging green plant, and a table lamp with a cream shade. Warm lighting creates a professional indoor setting.Amjid Ali
Luton Borough Council leader Amjid Ali said Stephenson was not describing "the Luton I know"

The police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire, Labour's John Tizard, has written to Stephenson to say he is "very disappointed and angry to read the comments".

"These statements are not supported by evidence and bear a troubling resemblance to far-right agitators seeking to divide communities," he said.

He urged Stephenson to withdraw "these divisive, scaremongering and false allegations."

Laura Foster/BBC John Tizard wearing a navy blue suit, light blue shirt and red patterned tie stands outdoors beside a row of marked police vans. He is positioned in the foreground facing the camera and wearing round glasses. Several white police vehicles with high-visibility yellow markings are parked diagonally behind, with the word “POLICE” visible on the nearest vehicle. The setting appears to be a vehicle depot or police facility, with a brick building, fencing, lamp posts and a paved roadway visible in the background. The sky is overcast and grey, and the image uses a shallow depth of field, keeping the person in focus while the vehicles and surroundings are slightly blurred.Laura Foster/BBC
Police and crime commissioner John Tizard has written an angry letter to Stephenson

In a statement, Stephenson said: "Luton used to be a thriving market town, and it can be again, but I believe it's important that we are honest about the challenges it faces.

"We shouldn't sugarcoat that. And any place where less than two thirds of people were born in this country will clearly have challenges with integration.

"That's not a criticism of any community - that is on all of us to do more to ensure deeper levels of integration to bring our towns and our country together.

"That's why as a Bedfordshire MP I've been supporting projects that will bring new investment into Luton; and why I've been fighting for lower and more sustainable levels of immigration, so that we can ensure that communities can better integrate."

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