Overview

• John Swinney apologized at Holyrood for unfair assimilation measures between 1940 and 1980 that removed children and forced Gypsy Travellers into inadequate housing.
• The Scottish Government report described the so-called tinker experiment as cultural genocide, highlighting the use of substandard huts and military buildings without basic utilities.
• The Church of Scotland issued a formal apology for its role in supporting discriminatory policies and tolerating derogatory language toward Gypsy Travellers.
• Campaigners, including Roseanna McPhee, hailed the apology as a pivotal milestone but urged the government to offer financial redress to affected families.
• Officials published a Gypsy Traveller action plan last year, but advocates warn that systemic change and robust anti-discrimination measures remain urgently needed.