Ms Stephenson told the Press Association: “I think leaving the European Convention is a mistake. It weakens the rights that all of us depend on.”

She argued that the convention, enshrined into law through the Human Rights Act, safeguards fundamental protections for all British citizens.

Mary-Ann Stephenson made the remarks in her first significant public intervention

The EHRC chairwoman argued that portraying migration as posing substantial dangers to the nation makes life considerably harder for both newly arrived migrants and ethnic minority Britons alike.

Nigel Farage swiftly condemned the watchdog chief’s remarks on Sunday evening.

The Reform UK leader said: “Reform believes we should deport terrorists, rapists and serious foreign criminals.

“The vast majority will agree with me that we must prioritise the rights of British people, whatever their ethnicity.”

The EHRC chairwoman argued that portraying migration as posing danger to Britain makes life harder for new arrivals

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Mr Farage’s party has pledged to halt all non-essential immigration should it gain power, and has committed to withdrawing from the ECHR as part of its strategy to address border concerns.

The Conservatives have adopted a similar position on leaving the convention, arguing it obstructs efforts to remove those residing in Britain unlawfully.

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out departing from the European treaty but is examining changes to human rights legislation to facilitate removals of those without legal status.

Ministers are weighing up amendments to Article 3, which prohibits torture and degrading treatment, alongside Article 8 concerning family life rights.

Nigel Farage swiftly condemned the watchdog chief’s remarks on Sunday evening

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Both provisions have been invoked to prevent deportations of individuals lacking permission to remain.

Public concern over immigration has reached its highest point in a decade, with YouGov research indicating 51 per cent of Britons consider it among the nation’s most pressing challenges.

The asylum system now costs taxpayers more than £5billion annually, with £2.1billion spent accommodating migrants across roughly 200 hotels nationwide.

More than 1.2 million foreign nationals currently receive Universal Credit payments.

Ms Stephenson defended the Human Rights Act by citing landmark cases she suggested demonstrated its practical value for ordinary citizens.

She pointed to the John Worboys prosecution, where the Supreme Court determined that police could face liability for serious investigative failures in the black cab rapist case.

A second example involved preventing authorities from separating an elderly married couple when one required residential care.

“These are all sorts of cases where most people would think that’s the sort of thing we would want to see,” she stated.

Prior to her appointment, Ms Stephenson had urged the government to scrap its “smash the gangs” approach and permit greater numbers of asylum seekers entry to Britain.

She previously likened criticism of refugees to “hostile politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past”.