John Finnie
Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands John Finnie has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament condemning recent comments from Priti Patel on Travellers.
In an online meeting with Jewish leaders, the Home Secretary suggested that violence and criminality were endemic in the Traveller community.
Her comments have been condemned in an open later signed by more than 80 academics and race equality organisations.
John Finnie’s motion calls on the Home Secretary to apologise and retract her comments.
He said: “The Traveller community has always been part of the Highlands and Scotland more widely. Despite that they remain routinely and unfairly stigmatised in the UK and comments like these from senior public officials perpetuate the problem. The Conservatives have a lamentable track record of stirring up hatred against Travellers and their casual bigotry has a real impact on people’s lives. Whether made through malice or ignorance the Home Secretary must apologise for these comments and the Tories must work to eradicate this prejudice from their party.
”I’ve also written to the Home Secretary requesting she avail herself of some much needed diversity awareness training at the earliest opportunity.”