A nationalist MSP said yesterday she would be “surprised” if the Scottish Government did not scrap a 19th-century law that campaigners claim discriminates against gypsy travellers.
Anne McLaughlin, a member of Holyrood’s public petitions committee, said she expected ministers to remove the legislation from guidelines that help councils and police crack down on unauthorised camps.
She made the remarks during a discussion about a petition lodged by Angus woman Lynne Tammi.
The campaigner, of Ogilvie Terrace, Ferryden, Montrose, claims local authorities and the police use the Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865 to move travellers on from fields and laybys despite the fact the “settled” community is allowed to participate in so-called “wild camping” under the Land Reform Act.
Ms Tammi, who lodged a petition on behalf of the Young Gypsy/Travellers’ Lives Project, says the current arrangements are unfair.
She attended the meeting yesterday with campaigners including gypsy traveller Justine Wilson, 19, who lives with her family in an unauthorised roadside camp between Oban and Fort William.
Glasgow MSP Ms McLaughlin said: “I would be surprised if the government was not willing to remove the Trespass (Scotland) Act and it would be important to find out when it will be completed.” She added that the committee should seek the views of councils before making a final recommendation to SNP ministers.
Ms McLaughlin told the campaigners: “We expect that the petition will be successful but in case it is not we need to get views from a wide variety of people.”
Miss Wilson, one of about 20,000 gypsy travellers in Scotland, said she hoped the government would scrap the legislation sooner rather than later.
“Life will be a lot easier if this law is removed because we will be able to live in a lot more places,” she added.
“Everyone else gets to pitch up for a couple of days but, as soon as they see you are a traveller, you are moved on, which is unfair.
“We do not see why we should be bothered if we are not doing anyone any harm.”
A Scottish Government report released in September showed that designated halt sites for travellers had been provided by Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Highland and Perth and Kinross councils.