Tory Minister faces potential police inquiry over ‘racist’ leaflet
David Davies, MP for Monmouthshire at the Conservative Spring Forum at the Welsh Conservative Conference in Cardiff, Wales
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A Tory Cabinet Minister is facing a potential police probe over a campaign leaflet which detractors have labelled as “racist”.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies used the leaflet sent out in late July to raise concerns about a “Gypsy and Traveller site” in his Monmouth constituency.
The leaflet said: “Labour-controlled Monmouthshire County Council proposes a Gypsy and Traveller site in Monmouth.”
It added: “Local MP David Davies believes that there will be insufficient consultation with the members of the public affected.”
An image of the leaflet shared with constituents in Monmouth
Travelling Ahead
The leaflet also asked: “Would you like to see a traveller site next to your house?”
Gwent Police received complaints over potential discrimination, leading officers to review the content as it could constitute a non-crime hate incident.
Davies, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 2005, stressed the leaflet was not a criticism of Monmouthshire’s Traveller community.
Responding to the allegations, the 53-year-old told WalesOnline: “The location of authorised and unauthorised Traveller sites is a legitimate matter for public debate and scrutiny.
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Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies, Stena Line Chief Operating Officer Fleet and Government Affairs Ian Hampton, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford
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“It is entirely valid to criticise a lack of wide public consultation by a council.
“I have been contacted by many upset residents at the shortness of the consultation and the proposed locations for the sites.
“I have also been told that many from the Gypsy and Traveller community are also upset at the proposed locations for the sites.
“This is not a criticism of the Gypsy and Traveller community.”
Another image of the leaflet shared with constituents in Monmouth
Travelling Ahead
However, a Roma and Traveller advice service said it had been contacted by residents who were “absolutely horrified”.
Trudy Aspinwall, a project manager at the charity Travelling Ahead, said: “You really would only have to substitute the words ‘gipsy and traveller’ for any other ethnic group and you would see that it is racist.
“There is no doubt that this was targeted at gipsies and travellers.
“They are protected under the Equality Act and there is a duty to not incite hostility or opposition based on race.”
However, the racism row also renews pressure on Gwent Police after Home Secretary Suella Braverman told officers in June to scale back investigating similar incidents just “because someone is offended”.
David TC Davies arriving in Downing Street, London after Rishi Sunak has been appointed as Prime Minister
PA
Figures from the Home Office showed only 5.5 per cent of reported crimes led to a charge or summons in the year to September 2022, down from eight per cent the year before.
Gwent Police also oversaw a 12 per cent rise in recorded crime over the past year, including a 38 per cent leap in shoplifting.
Despite concern about the incident wasting police time and resources, Detective Inspector Steve Thomas said: “Officers are reviewing the content of the leaflet and its impact on the gipsy and traveller and settled communities in Monmouthshire.
“We take any allegation of discrimination extremely seriously and we’re committed to ensuring our communities are safe places and welcoming for all.”
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