Dale Farm Travellers - Their Supporters

A number of high profile figures and organisations have lent their support to the Dale Farm travellers.

Vanessa Redgrave, actress

The Oscar-winning star broke off from her filming schedule in August to meet the families who face eviction.

She said: "The whole situation is really about planning. There's no crime being committed.

"We used to live in communities. We had a post office and we had our little local shops, which would help elderly people. Our communities up and down the country have been decimated and destroyed. Dale Farm hasn't."


Paddy Doherty, traveller and reality TV star

The winner of Celebrity Big Brother called for the Dale Farm families to be given "a break" and be allowed to stay on the site for a year so they could clear it up themselves.

He said: "If you take a fish out of water it will drown straightaway. Our population will drown like that.

"I'd love it if people of all nationalities get together and show their support for the people getting evicted when they shouldn't be getting evicted."


The United Nations

The UN Advisory Group on Forced Evictions (UNAGFE) held a news conference at Dale Farmto mark the launch of its report on evictions of gypsies and travellers.

The organisation expressed its "deep regret'' over the plans, saying the move would "disproportionately affect the lives of the gypsy and traveller families, particularly women, children and older people''.

In a statement, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination added: "We urge the authorities to find a peaceful and appropriate solution, including identifying culturally appropriate accommodation, with full respect for the rights of the families involved.''


Richard Howitt, MEP

The Labour Member of the European Parliament managed to get the plight of the travellers brought up at the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency meeting in Vienna this month.

He said: "As an MEP I am deeply ashamed that action here is bringing international opprobrium against our country. Britain's international reputation for tolerance, fairness and justice is being damaged."
 
"This is an issue of fundamental rights. Only international pressure can make a difference now."


Andrew George, MP

A group of MPs delivered a letter to Downing Street calling for the planned Dale Farm eviction to be delayed.

Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, Andrew George used the letter to call for an alternative solution.