Swinney apology to Gypsy Travellers ‘significant milestone', campaigner says
A campaigner has lauded the First Minister's apology over the 'cultural genocide' of Gypsy Travellers in Scotland as a 'significant milestone' for her community.
Roseanna McPhee welcomed the apology, which she said was the result of years of campaigning.
John Swinney made the formal apology at Holyrood on Thursday over 'unfair and unjust policies' that caused 'trauma' in what was known as the 'tinker experiment'.
Between 1940 and 1980, the so-called experiment – supported by councils and the UK Government – attempted to strip away the nomadic lifestyle of Gypsy Travellers, providing rudimentary and often cramped huts for people to live in.
A report published by the Scottish Government stated that 'the context within which the TE (tinker experiment) occurred is best understood as cultural genocide'.
Ms McPhee, whose family was among those settled in Pitlochry on the former Bobbin Mill site, had grown up in a prefabricated Second World War-style Nissen hut which had no electricity and used candles for light.
She welcomed the First Minister's apology, but said more needed to be done to stop the discrimination that her community continues to face.
She told the PA news agency: 'It's a milestone that we have reached in our long, long campaign, with no resources and just two or three generals and few food soldiers, really, because most people want to hide.
'I think the fact we managed to achieve that apology from the Government is a significant milestone.
'We're hopeful that discussions shall move forward, and perhaps something may be done about the general level of racism which we suffer, particularly in relation to public bodies.'
Ms McPhee said the apology could have been 'more robust' and expressed disappointment that Mr Swinney did not label the Tinker Experiment as 'cultural genocide', the description used in the report published by the Government.
'Cultural genocide is a crime against humanity,' she said. 'They did not name the offence. They did not say they took full responsibility of the offence.
'However, it's a positive step on the road towards the discussion around restitution and just satisfaction.'
Asked if she believed the Scottish Government should offer redress to affected families, she said: 'I absolutely believe it.
'If you'd been kept in degrading conditions as long as I have, with 16 health conditions and prevented from working with a joint-honours degrees and two post-graduates I think you might see some reason to have redress too.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Swinney says sorry to Gypsy Travellers for ‘trauma' of the ‘tinker experiment'
Scotland's First Minister has apologised to Gypsy Travellers for the 'unfair and unjust policies' that caused them 'trauma' in what was known as the 'tinker experiment'. John Swinney made clear that the treatment of members of this community in previous years had been 'unacceptable'. His comments came as a new report, published by the Scottish Government, stated that 'the context within which the TE (tinker experiment) occurred is best understood as cultural genocide'. Between 1940 and 1980, the so-called experiment – supported by councils and the UK government – attempted to strip away the nomadic lifestyle of Gypsy Travellers, providing rudimentary and often cramped huts for people to live in. When families became too big to be housed in the huts, children would sometimes be taken away. The Scottish Government has been carrying out research into the impact of what happened – with report, by the Third Generation Project at St Andrews University, revealing 'discriminatory' policies had been carried out in 27 of Scotland's current 32 local authorities. The Church of Scotland also issued 'a heartfelt and genuine apology for these historic wrongs'. Mr Swinney, in a statement to Holyrood, said he hoped his apology could be the 'beginning of a new conversation' with efforts to improve the lives of Gypsy Traveller community in Scotland. The First Minister told MSPs 'without ambiguity' that 'what happened to Gypsy Traveller communities in Scotland was unacceptable'. He added: 'It is clear to the Government that stark prejudice and lack of cultural awareness led to a series of unfair and unjust policies. 'These policies resulted in children being removed from families, and families were forced to live in substandard accommodation and degrading conditions. 'The trauma that this has caused to individuals, families and groups, including those who regard themselves as 'victims of tinker experiments', is significant and lasting'. With Gypsy Travellers in Holyrood's public gallery, Mr Swinney continued: 'As First Minister of Scotland, I want to say this directly to Gypsy Traveller communities: the 'tinker experiments' should not have happened. 'These policies were wrong. And we recognise how much it is still hurting so many. 'And more than anything else I want to say this – on behalf of Scotland, we are sorry.' Mr Swinney added that although Scotland had 'come a long way since the 'Tinker experiments', there was 'still much to do' in tackling the prejudice the community continued to face. And while Holyrood ministers published a new Gypsy Traveller action plan last year, the First Minister said the experiences shared as part of the government's work 'underline the urgent need for systemic change, greater accountability, and a shift in attitudes at every level'. He declared: 'We must do better.' Stressing the need for 'meaningful action' he highlighted the importance of 'challenging stereotypes, confronting everyday discrimination, and committing to long-term efforts that promote understanding, respect, and equity for Gypsy Travellers'. He stated: 'Our hope is that we now have a foundation for continuing to build trust and fostering renewed relationships with all those who have been impacted by historical policies.' His comments came as the report described the tinker experiments as being the 'recurring societal and institutional dehumanisation of Gypsy Travellers in Scotland'. This was 'often carried out under the stereotype of Gypsy Travellers as a people that collectively practised a backwards or undeveloped way of life', it added. The research highlighted the role of the UK national government 'and specifically the Scottish Office as a primary actor in the construction and enforcement of such policies'. But it said that others – including local councils, churches and charities – were involved in 'constructing the environment' that allowed this to happen. Gypsy Travellers in Scotland were housed in accommodation including Nissen-type huts, repurposed military buildings and disused properties, the report added – with these 'known by government agents to be substandard' with such properties 'frequently without' electricity and running water. The report also highlighted the 'forced transfer of children', with some youngsters being removed from their families and placed in temporary care, while others were permanently taken away, being adopted either in the UK or overseas. Afterwards, the Reverend Tommy MacNeil, convener of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team of the Church of Scotland and Dr Mike Cantlay, convener of its Social Care Council said: 'On behalf of the Church of Scotland, we offer a heartfelt and genuine apology for these historic wrongs, highlighted in the report and carried out in the name of the Church.' They added: 'We wish to say we stand in solidarity with those who suffered, and deeply regret the harm that came to them as a result of actions by the Church in the past.' Their statement acknowleged that the Church of Scotland 'tolerated discrimination and the use of derogatory language by its employees and members'
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Sarwar dodges question on potential welfare reform revolt
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has dodged questions about the brewing rebellion to the UK Government's welfare reforms. Around 120 Labour MPs – including a reported 12 from Scotland – have put their names to an amendment which would block the welfare reform Bill. But on Wednesday, Mr Sarwar refused to say if he supported the reforms or the rebellion against them. When asked if he supports the Scottish MPs seeking to block the Bill at a live taping of the Holyrood Sources podcast in Edinburgh, the Scottish Labour leader said: 'My position has been quite consistent on the welfare reforms, which is I support the principle of reform. 'We have to look at the structural challenges that exist in our welfare system, even with the changes currently being proposed.' Mr Sarwar said there were 'many positives' in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, but added that there were 'still conversations to be had' about potential changes. Pushed again on whether he supports the rebellion, Mr Sarwar said: 'Conversations are ongoing, as you would expect. 'People are legitimately voicing their concerns, having those conversations.' Pressed again on his view on the potential revolt, Mr Sarwar added: 'We have to support the principle of reform. 'What those reforms look like has to be balanced and has to be fair.' Mr Sarwar stressed that he believed the best way out of poverty was through work, but said those who cannot work should be supported. The most controversial part of the plans will see the eligibility of the personal independence payment (Pip) in England and Wales be reduced in a bid to save £5 billion. Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner suggested that ministers were considering potential concessions to Labour MPs to stave off a rebellion. 'Those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we're bringing in support people into work who need that, and we're putting a huge amount of investment into doing that, but also protecting the most vulnerable,' she said in an interview with ITV's Peston programme.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Consultation on scrapped national park in Galloway cost £160,000
A government body spent more than £160,000 on a consultation process which ultimately ended in plans for a new national park in Galloway being sum spent by NatureScot was revealed through a freedom of information (FOI) request by the BBC - and is only a fraction of the overall spend on the park said the total spent on the consultation had not been finalised, and final invoices would see the total rise "very slightly".The consultation was held between November and February and its findings were used to help deliver a final decision on whether or not a new national park should be created. The Scottish government said it was "absolutely correct" to support the nomination process. Plans for a new national park - to join the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs - were part of a power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish that agreement collapsed last year, the process Scottish government revealed in May last year that it had spent more than £300,000 in the earlier stages of the search for a national spent a further £28,000 after Galloway was announced as the preferred potential location for a new national park in July it stressed that civil servants worked "flexibly" across a range of matters making it impossible to specify exact costs in terms of their time. The final stage of the process was the extended consultation - both in person and online - across 14 weeks which was carried out by is a full breakdown of how much this cost:Licence for online engagement platform - £23,220Leaflets (printing and posting) - £20,438Gaelic translation - £215.55Event and other materials - £908.39Consultation events (hall bookings etc) - £5,695.96Facilitation consultants - £62,244.92Analysis consultants - £21,808.80Independent review of consultation - £9,900Board costs and subsistence - £7,982.35Staff costs and subsistence - £11,082.58Total spend (at 20 June 2025) - £163,496.55NatureScot said there were still some outstanding costs which would see the figure rise said it intended to put the final cost on its website by early July. The consultation ultimately led to a recommendation not to take forward the plan for a new national park, which proved a contentious in the concluded - in its role as reporter - that from the views expressed the proposal had "not garnered sufficient support locally to proceed".Instead, it recommended the strengthening of the likes of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, Galloway Forest Park and national scenic described the consultation as the "largest and most challenging" it had ever Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the Scottish government had weighed up the arguments for and against and agreed not to welcomed the decision, saying the area did not need another "layer of bureaucracy".Campaigners in favour, however, said it was a "huge missed opportunity" and a "big loss" for the region. 'Absolutely correct' The Scottish government said the Galloway nomination had met all the selection criteria to be confirmed as the proposed location for the country's third national said the designation process required a "thorough consultation process" which had been independently reviewed by the Scottish Community Development Centre which found it achieved "very impressive levels of public involvement".A spokesperson said: "The consultation collected more than 5,000 surveys and more than 1,000 people attended events to share their opinion."Based on this engagement and the reporter's recommendations we took the decision not to designate Galloway and Ayrshire as a national park."But it was absolutely correct to support the nomination process, thoroughly consider the application and meet the statutory consultation requirements that such a process demands."
