'We're valuable at elections - don't forget us'

Billy Welch says his community can "make the difference" in a close-run election

Campaigning on the doorstep is a familiar sight during the general election. But at Darlington’s Rowan West Gypsy and traveller site, residents say not one candidate has been seen so far.

"I think some are frightened to come and I don’t have a clue why," says Billy Welch.

"But I’d like to tell them all, we’re not to be forgotten no more."

He believes politicians are making a mistake by not engaging with his community.

"In the past, the Gypsies and travellers didn’t vote, so there’s been no value to them for politicians," he says.

"Times are changing and in the event of a close-run election, we could make the difference if we voted in a block. We are valuable."

Gypsies and travellers have been part of Darlington's community for centuries, with the Welch family history entwined with the town's.

A kitchen block, to the side of the caravan Billy and his wife live in, is the modern day equivalent of the outdoor cooking pitches their ancestors used.

"There’s never been a kettle boiled in our caravan," Billy explains. "We never cook inside them."

There, tea and biscuits are served up as visitors pop in throughout the afternoon.

'Britain's upside down'

Intense distrust of the media means they ask not to be named, but each says they are disillusioned, that they do not feel listened to.

Sharing anecdotes heavy with discrimination they call on candidates to "treat Gypsies the same way they treat everyone else".

"I've seen pubs with signs on the doors saying Gypsies and travellers aren't welcome," one woman later says.

"I definitely don't feel listened to and it's always been the same, we get tarred with the same brush and even the government treats us differently.

"Nobody’s been to my door and Britain's upside down - if I got asked to vote, I probably would, but would I be heard? Would they even come to speak to me?"

Billy has been working to get his people to the polls for several years

There's a framed Victoria Cross in Billy's modest office, an artefact displayed alongside a wealth of Gypsy history and family folklore.

"That's my great-grandfather, he lost his leg in the Battle of the Somme, and that's his cousin underneath, he won the VC at the battle," he says, pointing at sepia-toned photographs.

"We're there when this country needs us, we've fought side by side with your grandfathers, fought like lions to defend this country - but people forget the sacrifices we’ve made.

"In the past, we were in our own little bubble and wider society in theirs, what we did made no difference to them and what they did made no difference to us.

"But it's different now and our biggest problem is that we live in a democracy and we don't use it."

'Listen to us'

Research suggests Gypsy and traveller turnout at election time is typically low, but decades of campaigning within the community is beginning to make a difference, Billy believes.

As a leading representative for the UK’s Gypsy and travelling communities - "like my father before me" - he is using his position to urge his people towards the ballot box.

However, he is keeping his "powder dry" when it comes to who he will lend his support to on Thursday.

The BBC has approached all candidates standing for election in the Darlington constituency to ask how they intend to engage with and represent the Gypsy and traveller community - and if they have visited a site on their campaign trail so far.

Conservative Peter Gibson told the BBC he works closely with Billy and his community, and as the previous MP represented their views in Parliament.

Labour's Lola McEvoy said she had contacted more than 6,000 Darlington voters in the last six weeks.

The others have yet to get back.

A "conservative people by nature", Gypsies have traditionally lent their support to the Tories, Billy says.

He suggests the introduction of policies like the policing bill and voter ID have had a direct impact on the travelling community.

"All we want is equality, we don't think we're better than anyone else, nor do we think anyone is better than us," he says.

"We just want a fair crack of the whip and to be listened to.

"Sit up, listen to us, take note, or we'll swing to another party."

A full list of candidates for the Darlington constituency can be found here:

• Peter Gibson - Conservative

• Lola McEvoy - Labour

• Matthew Snedker - Green

• Simon Thorley - Liberal Democrat

• Michael Walker - Reform UK

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