Leeds Traveller charity dismisses councillor's “thought police” claims

By MIKE DOHERTY

Above: Morley Independents Councillor Robert Finnigan

A LEEDS Gypsy and Traveller charity has dismissed claims that its complaints about a councillor’s conduct were tantamount to the actions of George Orwell’s “thought police”.

The complaint to Leeds City Council was lodged by Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange followed public statements made by Morley Independents Councillor Robert Finnegan during a campaign opposing a private developer’s proposal for a 55 pitch site in Morley, Leeds.

Councillor Finnigan- whose ward, Morley North, lies three miles from the Council-run Traveller site Cottingley Springs- has been posting statements about his campaign on the Morley Independent’s blog and giving quotes to local newspapers.

In one statement Councillor Finnigan said: “We are doing our bit to accommodate the Traveller burden. Other areas need to take their fair share and not dump the problem on Morley Folk for them to solve!”

“It’s relatively simple to insert another ethnic of minority identity in place of the word Traveller in the statement to highlight how unacceptable this comment is and surmise that it may amount to an attempt to stir up hatred against that minority group,” says Helen Jones, head of Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange.

“Cllr Finnigan’s comments, which imply that ALL Travellers are problematic as neighbours, has caused great offence to Gypsy and Traveller people living in Morley and has led to an upsurge in reports of race hate incidents against Gypsy and Traveller people, particularly young people in schools. This is what prompted us to lodge a complaint.

"Far from GATE acting as the thought police Cllr Finnigan’s extreme statements are a cheap and lazy attempt to cut down anyone who dares to disagree with his anti-Traveller standpoint,” she says.

The Leeds GATE and Traveller Movement complaint about Councillor Finnigan’s conduct was initially dismissed by Leeds City Council, but was then re-submitted under equalities laws following advice from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. LCC are currently considering the complaint in detail.

Helen Jones says that the complaint, labelled “bogus” by Councillor Finnigan, led to more postings in the Morley Independent blog accusing Leeds GATE of trying to disrupt the campaign against the proposed site and of being “apologists” for Leeds Gypsies and Travellers.

“On what evidence?” says Helen Jones.  “Just to be very clear we do not condone or apologise for bad behaviour no matter what the ethnic background of the perpetrators.”

“Cllr Finnigan has also formed the view that Leeds GATE supports the current Morley site application.  Lets be very clear about this; at no time and in no manner has Leeds GATE or any of its representatives expressed support for the proposal to build a large Gypsy and Traveller site near to Morley railway station. 

“Our concerns that Cllr Finnigan’s comments are likely to stir up hatred are in no way fake or an attempt to deceive.  They are an attempt to remind Cllr Finnigan that with democratic power comes civic responsibility.  All councillors are required to attempt to represent the interests of all persons who are resident in their ward.”