Traveler charity at the center of 'racist' leaflet scandal 'too dependent' on Welsh government funding

David T.C. Davies distributed flyers expressing his concerns about the inadequacy of the council's advice on a potential site for use by the travel community. Photo: Matthew. Horwood/Getty Images Europe

The charity behind complaints that a Cabinet Minister's leaflet about travel sites was racist gets most of its funding from the Welsh Labor government, according to The Telegraph.

In TGP Cymru's latest financial report for 2022, the organization admitted it is «overly dependent» on cash from the Mark Drakeford administration in Cardiff.

The advocacy group Traveling Ahead, run by the charity, has criticized Welsh Minister David T S. Davis for the leaflets he sent out to the people of his Monmouth constituency. political action» targeting Mr. Davis.

Flyers sent out in late July express his concerns about the inadequacy of advice from the council on a potential site for use by the travel community.

They were titled «Gypsy and Travel Site coming soon to your area!» and asked potential neighbors: «Would you like to see a travel site near your house?»

TGP Cymru is described in the flyers as racist Photo: WALES NEWS SERVICE

Trudy Aspinwall, project manager for Traveling Ahead, suggested the flyers were «racist» and said they were «aimed at gypsies and travelers.»

In a Facebook post, the advocacy project added: «We filed a complaint against an unacceptable leaflet by MP David Davies, which was sent out seeking new sites for Gypsy families and travelers in Monmouthshire.”

“Complaints”. away from us, while others have gone over to the Conservative Party, the Equality Commission, and the Gwent Police.”

Gwent police said they are treating the flyer as a potential non-crime hate incident. According to The Telegraph, the Tory party dismissed the complaint.

Oliver Dowden, Deputy Prime Minister, defended his cabinet colleague and insisted that the leaflets he sent out were not racist.

He said Mr. Davis was «standing up for his constituents» over the lack of consultation, adding «I fully support his right to do so.»

“What David T. S. Davis was doing was highlighting the failure of the local Labor council to properly consult on this issue,” he told Sky News.

“This is totally what people expect from their local MPs.”

“The pamphlet is not a criticism of the gypsy and travel community”

Mr. his constituency and insisted the leaflet «was not a criticism of the gypsy and travel community.»

Charity commission figures show that over the past five years, TGP Cymru has received £5.6m in grants and has won £4.6m in grants. government contracts.

The amount includes money received by Tros Gynnal Plant, the charity's parent organization, from both Cardiff and the UK central government.

In their 2021 reports -2022 over-reliance on a single source of funding from the Welsh Government.”

The charity also explained in its 2020 reports: “The core funding from the Welsh Government is a significant source of income and is used to fund the head office. staff.”

Traveling Ahead is funded entirely by Cardiff, which has contracted TGP Cymru for £180,000 a year to manage the Advocacy Service.

Journey Forward TGP Cymru's response to Mr. Davis;

This is not the first time the project has entered the political realm.

In October 2021, he posted a protest on his Twitter account against the criminalization of a protest that took place outside the Tory Party Conference.

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After the scandal broke out over Mr. Davis' flyer, the same account shared messages, including one saying it «reminds me of Enoch Powell-era Conservative election flyers.»

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David Jones, a Welsh Conservative MP, said the charity should not «get involved in politics» and said its attack on colleague Mr Davies was «extraordinary».

» The fact that it is funded by the Welsh Labor government gives grounds for suspicion that their motives are political, and it is to be hoped that the Welsh government distances itself from this,” he said.

“This organization really should not interfere into politics, and it really looks like a political action against a Conservative MP. I think the charity has some explanation and the Welsh government needs to understand why it is funding this body.”

TGP Cymru has over 75 projects across Wales, including support for asylum seekers, problem solving with food. insecurity and helping families cope with winter hardships.

The charity has been contacted for comment.