Scottish Government must apologise for historic harms done to Gypsy Traveller community
The Scottish Government must apologise for its role in the Tinker Experiment if it wants to tackle the ongoing prejudice faced by the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.
Scottish Green MSPs Maggie Chapman and Mark Ruskell have both been campaigning for a public apology from the Scottish Government for its role in the Tinker Experiment. This programme - run by the UK Government and Scottish local authorities - forcibly removed Gypsy Traveller children from their families, and moved communities from their homes into unsafe and substandard accommodation.
The Scottish Greens asked the Scottish Government for an apology in mid-May, but the Minister for Equalities failed to confirm if the Scottish Government would be making an apology. However, a statement from the Scottish Government on this issue is now expected in Parliament later this week.
This Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, Maggie has called on the Scottish Government to finally commit to a public apology.
Commenting further, Maggie said:
“Gypsy Traveller communities were irreparably damaged by the Tinker Experiment, a cruel practice which was allowed to go on for far too long. This should be a great shame of Scotland’s past, yet it is a hidden moment in our history, one that has been covered up and too often forgotten by those in power.
“Prejudice against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities is still very alive and normalised across Scotland. We see discrimination against these communities in our schools and in our social services, with many people I’ve spoken to being refused services because their way of living is deemed unsuitable, and is misunderstood.
“If we’re serious about addressing the prejudices faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across Scotland, the Scottish Government needs to apologise for the Tinker Experiment - something which caused such harm to so many children and families. People have been waiting far too long.
“I hope by this time next year, we don’t have to ask for an apology for previous harms, and instead can use this month to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and highlight all the exciting activity in these communities, from the North East to Govanhill and Perthshire.”