Gypsy and Traveller communities still face racism and xenophobia. The government must stop fuelling it

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Abbie Kirkby Advice and Policy Manager, Friends, Families and Travellers Ali Harris Chief executive, Equally Ours Clare Collier Advocacy director, Liberty Debbie Kennedy CEO, London Gypsy Travellers Jim Burnside Chair, Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Groups Josephine O’Driscoll CEO, Gypsy and Traveller Empowerment Hertfordshire Marc Willers QC Garden Court Chambers Mia Hasenson-Gross Executive director, Rene Cassin Dr Omar Khan Director, Runnymede Trust Dr Siobhan Spencer MBE National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups Yvonne MacNamara CEO, Traveller Movement Justified alarm A bleak warning indeed from 11,000 scientists that the climate crisis will bring “untold suffering”. I guess many people realise that you can’t bury your head in the Brexit sand forever if coastal erosion keeps sweeping it away. The government itself talks about taking a “life cycle cost assessment ” approach to such measures – but then doesn’t legislate for the actions it recommends. There is nothing wrong with double glazing or 20 years’ payback – in fact you probably need to allow 30 years for the investment required.