Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew has called on British holiday company, Britannia Hotel Group, to take urgent action following revelations by a whistleblower that the company was operating an anti-Irish and anti-Traveller policy.

The Fermanagh South Tyrone MP said:“A whistle bowler within British holiday park company, Pontins, claimed that the company were operating a list of ‘undesirable guests’.

"An investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found the company had been using a list of mainly Irish surnames as part of a policy of refusing bookings to Travellers.

“It is deeply concerning and quite frankly infuriating that in 2021, anti-Irish and anti-Traveller racism continues in Britain.

"This blacklist harks back to a time when posters barring Irish people were displayed in bars, hotels and other public establishments across Britain.

“The Britannia Hotel Group, who own Pontins, must immediately ensure that those responsible for composing this blacklist are held fully accountable and that all forms of discrimination are eradicated from its business practices.”

Pontins listed names like Boyle, Doherty and McLaughlan on a sheet which had the headline "undesirable guests".

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) carried out an investigation which concluded that Pontins had been operating a policy of refusing bookings by Gypsies and Travellers.

The discriminatory policy came to light as a result of a whistleblower's decision to reveal the firm’s practices

Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited, owner of the Pontins, is working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to prevent racial discrimination after a Pontins employee said the holiday park company was operating a discriminatory bookings policy.