A Bedfordshire MP and shadow Conservative Home Office minister has come under fire after saying there are “no-go zones” in Luton, where “white people won’t go”.
Blake Stephenson, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, made the comments at a fringe event held by the centre-right think tank Centre for Policy Studies at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.
Mr Stephenson was elected as MP for Mid Bedfordshire in the 2024 election with a majority of 1,321 and was appointed to the Conservative frontbench two weeks ago.
Responding to a question from the audience, Mr Stephenson said: “I think [Luton] is a shadow of its former self.
“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. It is not alone; there are other towns across the country in a similar situation. It is dreadful where we have got to.
“But we can move on from it, but it requires deep levels of integration, and we need to break apart these, erm … this is where it gets icky, but 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 continued.
“It does get icky for some people, but I think there is a consensus, certainly on the right, that mass migration has been an absolute disaster.
“So it’s up to us to put a plan together and deliver. We’ve got the borders plan. You know, some of that may feel a bit icky for some people, but we’ve got to face into it, lean into it.”
Widespread criticism
His comments have received widespread criticism from other local leaders, the local authority and Bedfordshire Police, as well as community organisations and Bedford leaders.
This morning, during an interview with the Bedford Independent’s editor, chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, Trevor Rodenhurst, said the MP’s comments were “unfair” to the cohesive communities of the area.
During their conversation, Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst categorically refuted Mr Stephenson’s claim, telling Paul Hutchinson, “The bottom line is, it’s party-political season, isn’t it, with all of the parties’ annual conferences.
“I’m apolitical, but I can fact-check a statement – there are no ‘no-go’ streets in Luton. I can categorically say that, nor anywhere else in the county,” he said.
“Bedford and Luton [are] both multicultural towns.
“But what’s positive about those places is they both have quite a high level of community cohesion. It doesn’t exist in all places of the country where you’ve got different communities and different parts of towns essentially living alongside each other.
“And actually, Luton is particularly a place that has a real strong cross-community sense of place and community cohesion.
“So, it’s not overly helpful to characterise a place in that way.
“It’s not fair. But I do understand that politicians always make statements to adopt a position.”
The chief constable acknolwedged the challenges aimed at Luton’s diverse communities, but said: “Actually our communities work really well together and with Bedfordshire Police to say, “no one wants that here.”
“And, you know, that’s where policing and communities stand together.
“And this whole idea, that one community gets a different service to another, I can categorically say we seek to do the basics of policing really well, and do it well for all communities.”
Bedfordshire’s PCC, John Tizzard (Labour), has written an angry letter to Mr Stephenson expressing his disappointment at “divisive, scaremongering and false allegations”.
In his letter to the MP, Mr Tizzard writes, ‘These statements are not supported by evidence and bear a troubling resemblance to far-right agitators seeking to divide communities rather than strengthen them.
‘No one has ever spoken to me about “no go areas” nor used terms such as “ghettoes.”
‘Like any town facing challenges associated with deprivation and inequality, we all share a responsibility to foster understanding and social cohesion, not to contribute to division.
‘Public figures have a particular duty to choose their words carefully. The comments attributed to you fall short of that responsibility.
‘I would urge you to reconsider.’
Luton leaders united
Luton politicians and leaders also quickly challenged Mr Stephenson’s comments.
The Labour MP for Luton North, Sarah Owen, said: “It is deeply irresponsible for any politician, let alone a senior Conservative, to peddle the same far-right nonsense about Luton that we see from the likes of Yaxley Lennon [aka Tommy Robinson] and Reform.
“It is simply not true.
“The Shadow Home Office minister will have many constituents who work in Luton and will not recognise his warped description. He should get off social media and meet our many fantastic Lutonians.
“I also call on the new Lib Dem/Tory/Green coalition council to disown these comments from their colleagues”
In a statement, Cllr Amjid Ali (Liberal Democrat), leader of Luton Council, said that he was incredibly proud to call Luton his home.
“The comments made about Luton by Blake Stephenson are simply unacceptable. They are also completely untrue and do a disservice to the people who live and work in our town,” he added.
“There are no “no-go zones” in Luton where white people cannot or will not go. That is not the Luton I know, it is not the Luton our residents know, and it is not supported by the facts.”
Conservative challenge
Cross-party leaders, including the heads of Luton’s Conservative and Independent Alliance groups, have filed a formal complaint against Blake Stephenson and invited him to visit the town.
Condemning Stephenson’s remarks as “scaremongering,” Cllr Ali said: “Our diversity is not something that divides us.
“We should challenge attempts to portray our town in a way that bears no resemblance to the Luton experienced by the people who live here.”
“Deeply irresponsible”
Bedford Borough leaders and community organisers also expressed their upset at his words.
Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford and Kempston, said: “There is an orchestrated attempt by some politicians and individuals on the right and far right to talk down our multicultural towns and cities, and it is deeply disappointing to see Mr Stephenson join that bandwagon.
“It is deeply irresponsible to make such inflammatory statements for political gain.
“Mr Stephenson would do well to listen to the MPs who represent Luton, people who live there, work there and know their communities.
“They understand the challenges their constituents face, but they also understand the strength, diversity and community spirit that makes Luton what it is.
“At a time when some politicians and individuals are choosing to peddle fear and hate, I’m proud to be part of a party that is offering a message of unity and hope.”
Marie-Ange Comerford-Raillon is the director at Bedford’s Queen’s Park Community Organisation, which works closely with a wide range of local charities, voluntary groups and organisations in Luton.
“Throughout all of those visits, I have consistently found Luton to be welcoming,” she told the Bedford Independent.
Drawing parallels with Bedford, Marie-Ange said: “Luton is home to people from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and faiths.
“One of its greatest strengths is how these communities come together to support one another.
“The exemplary community spirit shown by residents and local groups has been clearly evident across the many joint projects and initiatives that I, alongside several other faith and community leaders from Bedford, have been involved with.
“Public discussions about towns like Luton should be grounded in genuine engagement and the lived experiences of those working directly within the community.
“Based on our ongoing involvement, Luton’s diversity remains one of its greatest assets, and it continues to be a welcoming town with a strong sense of neighbourliness.”
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Mrs Susan Lousada, shared her experiences of working with communities in Luton to create a stronger, cohesive town.
“Luton’s wonderfully diverse communities and rich cultural life are core strengths of the town. Across the community, people work hard every day to bring neighbours together, build understanding and strengthen social cohesion,” she told the Bedford Independent.
“I recently attended the annual Luton Peace Walk, which this year marked its 30th anniversary.
“For three decades, people of all faiths and beliefs, or none, have been welcomed into one another’s places of worship. It is a joyous occasion, with conversations, cups of tea and wonderful food shared along the way.
“This year also marked the 50th anniversary of Luton’s Carnival, bringing communities together in a colourful celebration.
“Two years ago, I held a Princess of Wales Community Carol Service in Luton to recognise the many people whose commitment helps create a stronger, more connected town.
“These occasions reflect the care, generosity and hard work that people across Luton give to their communities throughout the year.”
“Challenges with integration”
Defending his comment, Mr 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.
“My comments on the panel were in response to a Luton resident who raised this exact issue with me, and it reflects a reality that many people now feel that parts of the town are unwelcoming and unsafe.
“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.”
