AN MP has called for changes to laws to help ‘the forgotten people’ who ‘deserve more’.

Ranil Jayawardena, MP for North East Hampshire spoke out during a debate in the House of Commons on gypsies, travellers and local communities following issues raised by his constituents who reported vandalism, trespassing and threats from travellers.

Mr Jayawardena took the opportunity on October 9 to call for a reform of ‘outdated laws which put interests of travellers above house-dwelling residents’, addressing minister of state for communities and local government, Alok Sharma.

Mr Jayawardena believes there is a not level playing field between rights of those who live in permanent home and travellers.

In the debate, he said: “If I build a home because I want to live somewhere without permission, the local authority doesn’t have to give me another plot.”

Mr Jayawardena also believes the current law takes too long to effect and does not give the police sufficient powers to act.

Mr Jayawardena added: “We do have discrimination in this country, not against travellers and gypsies, given the number of advocates they clearly have on the opposition benches, but against the hard-working, honest residents of communities up and down the land.

“They are the silent majority - and are, too often, the forgotten people.”

This call comes not long after a trail of waste was left by travellers on Down Grange, Kempshott, Basingstoke after they were moved on from the conservation area earlier this month.

At the end of his speech, Mr Jayawardena said: “I hope today’s debate will be the start of a real shift in government policy, and will lead to the government reconsidering criminal legislation in this area, more must be done.

“Constituents demand it – and, boy, do they deserve it.”