What benefit have gypsies ever brought to the UK?

I thought long and hard before posting this because I just know some illiberal will call me a racist or Little Englander.

It comes on the heels of the news that some of the Romanian gypsies who had left Belfast after being beaten up had returned to the city.

One might ask why since they did nothing to engender a community spirit last time they were there. Reports had them starting a mini crime wave finally resulting in the locals taking the law into their own hands.

Perhaps the biggest irony of all was watching the gangster Martin McGuinness condemning people for being violent. Pots and kettles spring to mind.

I suppose one question that must be asked is why the Romanian gypsies came to Britain in the first place. It is hardly a direct route.

Labour Communities Secretary Shahid Malik admits that planning laws are indeed deliberately skewed to favour gypsies and travellers. He said, "Fairness does not mean treating people equally. It means addressing the different needs of different people."

That by any measure can hardly be described as "fairness".

Now comes the question: this government has defined gypsies as an ethnic minority. So leaving aside that piece of nonsense, one must ask what benefit have gypsies ever brought to the UK?

I think most people would agree that selling lucky heather and clothes pegs is not actually economically beneficial since one is unnecessary and Tesco and Sainsbury's can supply you with the other.

It is a question I would genuinely like the answer to: what benefit have gypsies ever brought to the UK?

I can make a case for the social and economic benefits of members of nearly all minorities coming to this country: West Indians, Pakistanis, Jews, Indians, Sri Lankans, Chinese, Japanese, Bangladeshis, Poles, not to mention French, Germans, Italians, Russians, Spanish, Americans - the list goes on.

All of the above have improved this country by their being here whether it is in the sporting arena, food and restaurants, constructions business, cleaning, tailoring, dry cleaning, social and cultural events or merely doing lowly paid jobs that no one else wants to do. For this they pay tax and national insurance and in many cases add to the gaiety of the nation - the Notting Hill Carnival and Chinese New Year to name but two occasions.

But what benefits have gypsies brought? It is a genuine question and I would like to know the answer.

Everyone should pay for healthcare...

This month is apparently “is Gypsy and Traveller month, an important time in the Equality and Human Rights calendar”.

The NHS wants to help more gypsies “access services” within the health service – an admirable aim, one might think.

Ian Holding of the Gypsy and Traveller Team at Bristol City Council has initiated a scheme to help them. He asks, “How can they access health services when they are moving about so much?”

Presumably, since they are moving about they are not paying tax or national insurance, so one might ask why they are entitled to health services they have not paid for?