Nickatilynx
03-20-2005, 11:14 AM
The Tories have denied trying to start a race row by revealing plans to tackle illegal traveller encampments.
In a several Sunday newspaper adverts, Michael Howard said there was "one rule for travellers and another for everyone else", thanks to the Human Rights Act.
Planning minister Keith Hill said the Tories were "tapping into the biggest vein of bigotry - prejudice against Gypsies and travellers".
Tory policy chief David Cameron said the issue was about "fair play".
FIVE-POINT PLAN
Review of the Human Rights Act to ensure it does not clash with laws against unauthorised land development
New powers for councils to remove illegal caravans and the option of larger court fines
Local authorities to be able to purchase land compulsorily where there is a continuing breach of a Stop Notice
Revised guidance to police on traveller trespass and criminal or anti-social behaviour on traveller sites
Empowering local people to decide on the location of traveller sites
Campaign sparks debate
Q&A: Traveller law reform
He told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost programme: "This is nothing to do with race. This is about fair play.
"We think there should be one rule for everybody."
Mr Howard says in his advertisements: "If you want to build a new home you have to get planning permission first.
"But if you are a traveller you can bend planning law - building where you like thanks to the Human Rights Act."
The Conservatives have already said they intend to review the Act and scrap it if it cannot be rewritten to their satisfaction.
They claim it is putting the interests of criminal "chancers" before hard-working members of the public.
Opportunism
But Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition coordinator Andrew Ryder said Mr Howard was trying to "surf on the prejudice and hysteria stoked up" by the media and "score some cheap political points in the run-up to the election".
"Are travellers not to have human rights or protection from human rights legislation?
"Would it not be more sensible for sites to be created so that no one has to say their human rights are being infringed because there is nowhere they can live?"
Mr Ryder says there is a shortage of travellers sites and that creating around 5,000 legal pitches would help see an end to the legal wrangles that can be prompted by illegal encampments.
Labour MP Kevin McNamara, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Traveller Law Reform, accused Mr Howard of supporting an anti-Gypsy backlash and said he irresponsibly jumping on a "bandwagon of prejudice and hysteria".
'Approved sites'
He reflected Mr Ryder's comments that a shortage of sites for Gypsies and travellers created tensions between communities.
Labour's general election co-ordinator Alan Milburn said Mr Howard was avoiding the real election issues, economy and the public services, and accused him of opportunism.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said the Conservatives were pandering to a mistaken view that the Human Rights Act undermines British culture.
"This issue has nothing to do with human rights and everything to do with planning.
But he called on Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to ensure local councils were offering "special approved sites for travellers".
Mr Howard will set out his package of measures to end illegal traveller camps during a speech on Monday.
In a several Sunday newspaper adverts, Michael Howard said there was "one rule for travellers and another for everyone else", thanks to the Human Rights Act.
Planning minister Keith Hill said the Tories were "tapping into the biggest vein of bigotry - prejudice against Gypsies and travellers".
Tory policy chief David Cameron said the issue was about "fair play".
FIVE-POINT PLAN
Review of the Human Rights Act to ensure it does not clash with laws against unauthorised land development
New powers for councils to remove illegal caravans and the option of larger court fines
Local authorities to be able to purchase land compulsorily where there is a continuing breach of a Stop Notice
Revised guidance to police on traveller trespass and criminal or anti-social behaviour on traveller sites
Empowering local people to decide on the location of traveller sites
Campaign sparks debate
Q&A: Traveller law reform
He told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost programme: "This is nothing to do with race. This is about fair play.
"We think there should be one rule for everybody."
Mr Howard says in his advertisements: "If you want to build a new home you have to get planning permission first.
"But if you are a traveller you can bend planning law - building where you like thanks to the Human Rights Act."
The Conservatives have already said they intend to review the Act and scrap it if it cannot be rewritten to their satisfaction.
They claim it is putting the interests of criminal "chancers" before hard-working members of the public.
Opportunism
But Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition coordinator Andrew Ryder said Mr Howard was trying to "surf on the prejudice and hysteria stoked up" by the media and "score some cheap political points in the run-up to the election".
"Are travellers not to have human rights or protection from human rights legislation?
"Would it not be more sensible for sites to be created so that no one has to say their human rights are being infringed because there is nowhere they can live?"
Mr Ryder says there is a shortage of travellers sites and that creating around 5,000 legal pitches would help see an end to the legal wrangles that can be prompted by illegal encampments.
Labour MP Kevin McNamara, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Traveller Law Reform, accused Mr Howard of supporting an anti-Gypsy backlash and said he irresponsibly jumping on a "bandwagon of prejudice and hysteria".
'Approved sites'
He reflected Mr Ryder's comments that a shortage of sites for Gypsies and travellers created tensions between communities.
Labour's general election co-ordinator Alan Milburn said Mr Howard was avoiding the real election issues, economy and the public services, and accused him of opportunism.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said the Conservatives were pandering to a mistaken view that the Human Rights Act undermines British culture.
"This issue has nothing to do with human rights and everything to do with planning.
But he called on Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to ensure local councils were offering "special approved sites for travellers".
Mr Howard will set out his package of measures to end illegal traveller camps during a speech on Monday.