Report on Coalition Government Gypsies, Roma and Travellers policy

From the Equality and Diversity Forum

The Coalition Government statement of agreement pledged to promote improved community relations and opportunities for ethnic minority communities (Cabinet Office, 2010). Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (GRT) are one of the most marginalised minorities in society (Cemlyn et al, 2009), therefore actions by the Coalition Government that impact on this group are a good indicator of the strength of its commitment to improved community relations and social justice.

Two years into the life of the Coalition Government we are in a position to make such an assessment with the publication of an inter-ministerial report in April 2012: ‘Progress report by the ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers’ (CLG, 2012).

A group of UK academic researchers with extensive experience of research related to GRT communities have expressed serious concerns about Coalition Government Policy.

The authors of the report are Dr Sarah Cemlyn (University of Bristol), Dr Margaret Greenfields (Buckinghamshire New University), Dr Joanna Richardson (De Montfort University), Dr Andrew Ryder (University of Bristol, Corvinus University Budapest), and Dr Patrice Van Cleemput (Sheffield University).