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2 Apr, 8 tweets, 4 min read
This is beyond unacceptable and utterly shameful.

Gypsies and Travellers are human beings. You cannot use Gypsy and Traveller people as a political football with which to score votes.
(1/8)
Politics is already rife with anti-Traveller racism and for a 'Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities' to be doing this is completely beyond the pale.

To then argue that it was a case of not knowing what 'incursions' means is utterly baffling. (2/8)

In fact, @APPGGTR Co-chair @MartinJDocherty just this week wrote about the use of language during #SP2021. See here: (3/8)

This isn't the only time the use of militaristic and inflammatory language has been flagged. From the sheer volume of politicians who engage in gutter politics for votes, we had to create a tool to help people complain about a politicians language. (4/8)

gypsy-traveller.org/campaigns/chal…
We have even previously flagged up to international bodies the use of language that perpetuates harmful stereotypes and fuels race hate, by elected officials. (5/8)

gypsy-traveller.org/wp-content/upl…
In January last year, we called on @LindsayHoyle_MP as the Speaker of the House of Commons to tackle hostile language used by parliamentarians against Gypsies and Travellers. (6/8)

gypsy-traveller.org/news/charities…
Equalities Ministers should know the basic dynamics that are replicated and reinforced through language.

Claiming ignorance will not cut it. Antiracism is a process of learning, but there's no form of 'antiracism' where using entire communities as political football OK. (7/8)
This leaflet will have done untold damage, further stoking tensions and exposing Gypsy and Traveller people to further discrimination.

This is not okay from anyone with an Equalities portfolio. We will be submitting a complaint. You can too (/END):

gypsy-traveller.org/campaigns/chal…

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More from @GypsyTravellers

FFT Profile picture
2 Apr
For decades, the Government has failed to identify enough space for Travellers to live and now the Home Secretary is planning to jail, fine and remove the homes of innocent people for the ‘crime’ of having nowhere to go. (1/4)
Against this backdrop, the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities is handing out leaflets on “dealing with traveller incursions” to win votes at election time. The language is disgraceful, but the issue is so much more than language - it’s the whole approach. (2/4)
It is as cruel as it is illogical to campaign for roadside camps to be “dealt with” when the shortage of places to stop is so severe. We need transit pitches, permanent pitches and negotiated stopping in place - why do we never see that printed on any election leaflets? (3/4)
Read 4 tweets
FFT Profile picture
1 Apr
On 8th March, @pritipatel stated in Parliament, “As of January 2020, the number of lawful Traveller sites increased by 41% from January 2010…”.

This is false. There has been an 8.4% decrease in local authority Traveller pitches 2010-20.

Read more: gypsy-traveller.org/law/priti-pate… (1/6)
Several Conservative MPs have chosen to repeat this grossly misleading information to constituents who have used our tool to call for the PCSC Bill to be scrapped. (2/6)
action.gypsy-traveller.org/page/78097/act…
The Gov.’s own response to the consultation on the PCSC Bill stated that ‘41%’ refers to an increase in *transit pitches*.

@pritipatel failed to include the key reference to ‘transit’ and wrongly referred to ‘lawful sites’, NOT pitches: bit.ly/31B4raC (3/6)
Read 6 tweets
FFT Profile picture
31 Mar
As you may have seen, the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities released its report today. The conclusion being that there is no 'institutional racism'. (1/10)

Read here for our response (hint: we're not surprised nor impressed):
gypsy-traveller.org/news/fft-respo…
The major irony, of course, is that *just this month* @Pontins were found by the @EHRC to be operating a 'blacklist' of Irish surnames, in efforts to systematically target Gypsies and Travellers. (2/10)

gypsy-traveller.org/law/fft-respon…
The Pontins case fits the very definition that the Commission have chosen for 'Institutional racism'; "Institutional racism: applicable to an institution that is racist or discriminatory processes, policies, attitudes or behaviours in a single institution" (pg. 37). (3/10)
Read 10 tweets
FFT Profile picture
15 Mar
This evening we're live tweeting developments from the parliamentary debate on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, in particular in relation to the potential impacts of proposed new laws to imprison, fine and remove the homes of Gypsy, Traveller and nomadic people.
The Home Secretary in her opening remarks states that she intends to back and support the police with the new bill - it is very clear that is not the case as most police don't want stronger powers for roadside camps and say more sites are needed:
gypsy-traveller.org/news/police-re…
The Home Secretary has repeatedly said "the punishment must fit the crime". Yet, the bill contains plans to imprison Gypsy, Traveller and nomadic people, fine them and remove their homes for the 'crime' of having nowhere to legally stop.
Read 50 tweets
FFT Profile picture
15 Mar
Today we release 'Briefing on new police powers for roadside camps in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Part 4'

Here's what you need to know:

🚫The measures outlined in the #PolicingBill will worsen inequalities already experienced by Gypsies and Travellers (1/n)
🚫The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will needlessly push Gypsies and Travellers in to the criminal justice system

🚫The powers will disproportionately affect specific minority and ethnic communities and is likely to be in conflict with human rights legislation (2/n)
🚫 An enforcement approach to addressing the number of roadside camps overlooks the issue of the lack of site provision. There are not enough places where Gypsies and Travellers are permitted to stop or reside. (3/n)
Read 8 tweets
FFT Profile picture
16 Jan
Morning all, you may have seen in the @Telegraph and @thetimes this morning that @pritipatel will shortly announce that it will make it a criminal offence to trespass with the intention of settling. 1/n
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/1…
The majority of people living on roadside camps have no place to stop because of Government failure to identify anywhere. @pritipatel's plans will therefore mean that people can be imprisoned and fined for the "crime" of having nowhere to live. 2/n
Our research, released this week, shows that there is a huge unmet need for pitches on Traveller sites, with over 1696 families on waiting lists for public sites in England. 3/n
gypsy-traveller.org/planning/new-r…
Read 8 tweets

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