The Bishop of Bedford has criticised a Conservative MP over comments that there are parts of Luton where “white people won’t go”.
Rt Rev Richard Atkinson said he had “profound disagreement” with remarks made by Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson at a Conservative Party Conference fringe event about migration.
Mr Stephenson, who was appointed shadow Home Office minister last month, said parts of Luton were “like no-go zones”.
“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,” he said.
Bedfordshire Police, the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, and several Luton politicians and community leaders have rejected his comments.
Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst said there aren't “no-go” streets in Luton or anywhere else in Bedfordshire.
The Bishop of Bedford has now joined those criticising the MP.
Writing to Mr Stephenson earlier this week, Bishop Richard said it was particularly sad to have to challenge him because of their previous relationship.
“As I come to the end of over fourteen years as Bishop of Bedford, including leadership of the Church of England in Luton, I reflect on, and give thanks for, the experience of many positive relationships with our MPs, including yourself,” he wrote.
“It is all the sadder therefore that I feel I must write to express profound disagreement with, and concern at, your comments on ‘no-go zones’ to the Conservative Conference fringe meeting about migration.”
The bishop said he had recently taken part in Luton’s Peace Walk, which included a mosque, a gurdwara and St Mary’s Church in the centre of the town.
He said the event reflected the strength of relationships between different faith communities.
“A walk that not only expresses the commitment to cohesion in Luton, but also reflects the reality of strong faith relations,” he wrote.
Bishop Richard said his experience of working on interfaith issues had given him a different view of the town.
“As someone with a long record of engagement in national and local interfaith matters I know that the inter-community and inter-faith work in Luton, including close partnership with the Police, Local Authority and other partners, is often an exemplar for others.”
He acknowledged that there were challenges around social cohesion in the UK, including inequalities between wealthier and poorer communities, but stressed the importance of people working together.
“This requires committed and generous relations with our neighbours, not words that neither reflect the reality, nor bring people together,” he said.
He ended his letter by referring to Jesus's command to “Love our neighbour”.
Chief Constable Rodenhurst has also defended the level of community cohesion in Luton, describing it as a place with a “real strong cross-community sense of place and community cohesion”.
Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard has described Mr Stephenson’s comments as “divisive, scaremongering and false allegations”.
Mr Stephenson has defended his remarks, saying they reflected concerns raised with him by a Luton resident.
He said some people felt parts of the town were “unwelcoming and unsafe” and argued that the UK needed “deeper levels of 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,” he said.
The Bishop of Bedford is due to retire after more than 14 years in the role.