Social Democratic and Labour Party Leader Colum Eastwood MP has launched a parliamentary Early Day Motion at Westminster calling for stronger legal protections for Irish people living in Britain.
The move follows an Equality and Human Rights Commission investigation into Pontins for the use of a blacklist to discriminate against Irish people members of the Traveller community.
Colum Eastwood MP said:
The growing anti-Irish sentiment that has come to light over the last number of weeks and months in Britain is chilling and deeply worrying for the Irish community living here.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission Investigation into the operation of a blacklist of common Irish names and accents at holiday firm Pontins is just one example of the blatant discrimination that people face. We’re actually in the incredible situation where that company was actively lobbying MPs whose bookings it would have refused on the basis of their name.
Whether it’s the blacklist, the unacceptable abuse of footballer James McClean or the refusal to allow Irish language inscriptions on the headstones, there is an unsettling pattern of discrimination and abuse that needs to be addressed.
I have launched an Early Day Motion at Westminster calling on the British Government to get tougher on anti-Irish and anti-Traveller abuse and discrimination. Our communities have made immense contributions to Britain, it’s time they took these matters seriously.