The government is widely believed to have been leaking confidential details from asylum-seekers' papers to try to discredit them. Junior Home Office minister Mike O'Brien went on the radio to urge ferry companies effectively to discriminate racially against Roma seeking legally to travel on pre-paid tickets to the United Kingdom. He asserted no Roma would be accepted from these countries and shipped as many home as he could without the benefit of legal advice, and accused lawyers who tried to help of being corrupt. So far at least eight asylum-seekers from these countries have had their applications accepted and more are accepted. No apology has been forthcoming, however, from the Home Office.
Administrative discretion is, however, no substitute for human rights.
Against this background there has been a widespread movement, spearheaded by major charities and by lawyers dealing with Gypsy causes to create pressure to bring forward a new private member's bill next year. This conference, focused on Gypsies and Travellers, but with implications for the whole community, grew out of the NCVO's Rural Anti-racism project. It brought together both Traditional and New Traveller communities to discuss with professionals issues affecting their communities such as traditional and current land usage, cultural and historical identities, and issues of distinction, discrimination and prejudice. Legal and planning issues were also examined along with innovative ways to enable access to services. The conference sought to address and overcome the false dichotomy that sometimes seems to exist between most mainstream struggles for equality and Traveller liaison work.