On Wednesday 27th November, Windrush survivors, advocates and campaigners gathered in Parliament alongside Action for Race Equality (ARE) to urge the government to ensure fairer, faster, and more just treatment, and a promise of legal aid, for those affected by the Home Office Windrush Scandal.
The Windrush Compensation Scheme and Documentation Scheme, launched in April 2018, were intended to redress and “right the wrongs” of the Scandal, which revealed how changes to immigration and citizenship laws, combined with the Hostile Environment policy, subjected British citizens from Commonwealth countries to immigration controls and denial of basic rights.
However, seven years since the Scandal broke, both schemes have faced widespread criticism from survivors and human rights groups for being overly complex, plagued by delays, and damaging to claimants – many of whom are older individuals already fundamentally traumatised by the loss of their citizenship and livelihoods.
The System is Broken
At Thursday’s parliamentary event, co-hosted by Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall) and Paulette Hamilton MP (Birmingham Erdington), with MPs in attendance including Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood) and Dawn Butler MP (Brent), along with Home Office staff, we heard firsthand accounts from Windrush survivors who described how the Scandal, and the arduous process of seeking redress, had caused ongoing trauma, shame, and severe deterioration in their health and life outcomes.
Speakers stressed that the issue extended beyond financial compensation to include the restoration of their rights and acknowledged as survivors of state failure.
Dawn Butler MP for Brent urged those who were impacted by the Scandal – and its ensuing legacy on second and third generation families – to come forwards to seek help from advocacy groups such as those on ARE’s Windrush Justice Programme.
You are entitled. This is your entitlement, and you must make your claim. There is no shame in your claim.”
The evening also gave space for dedicated campaigners such as Glenda Caesar, Patrick Vernon OBE, Reverend Clive Foster (The Pilgrim Church), Hyacinth Shirley-McLaughlin (Genysis ArcT), Ajrit Singh (Nishkam Civic Association) 1 to share their frustrations in the slow rate of change, calling on agencies to work ‘better together’ to fix a broken system and remove unnecessary ‘bureaucratic barriers’ (Arjit Singh).
Jeremy Crook OBE, our Chief Executive, also voiced the community’s widespread fears of an ‘eVisa Scandal’ predicted to impact countless individuals in a repeat of the Windrush Scandal.
This is why, now more than ever, with the governments new £1.5 million investment into Windrush community work, Action for Race Equality is calling for:
- Considered, consistent and constructive engagement with Windrush groups and lawyers. Their knowledge and expertise should shape the new grant programme and future government policy on the Scandal.
- Legal Aid for Windrush claims: survivors of the Scandal deserve prompt payments that fairly reflect the trauma they’ve experienced. The community fund is welcomed however it cannot replace the systematic legal support. The Compensation Scheme is complex and difficult to navigate without legal support.
Kimberly McIntosh, Windrush Policy Lead at Action for Race Equality said:
The Home Office Scandal is far from over. There are still too many people who are eligible for compensation, yet they have been offered nothing. Survivors are still waiting for their rightful citizenship to be granted. After countless reports, High Court challenges and courageous campaigning by victims the evidence is clear, the Windrush Schemes are fundamentally flawed. The government’s commitment to reset its relationship with Windrush survivors is a good start. But this alone is not enough. To ensure the scheme is faster, fairer, prompt, and proactively reaching the people that need it, it must sit alongside legal support for Windrush claims.”
Paulette Hamilton MP for Birmingham Erdington commented:
The generation that helped build the foundations of this country after the Second World War deserve nothing less than justice and respect. I welcome the government’s recent announcements and their commitment to a ‘fundamental reset’ in addressing the appalling failings of the Windrush Scandal. However, we must continue to raise our voices and push for action. Justice for the Windrush generation is long overdue, and our fight will not stop until it is achieved.”
Ajit Singh, Managing Director of Nishkam Civic Association commented:
Parliament must consider the urgent reforms needed to offer genuine recompense: it is vital that the Windrush Generation’s stories are honoured, their sacrifices acknowledged, and justice delivered to support the process of Reconciliation and Forgiveness for those who were wronged. Let us not only remember their legacy but work together towards a fairer, more inclusive society and ensure lessons are learnt at all levels.”
ARE is committed to supporting survivors of the Windrush Scandal and their descendants and is currently running a rolling open round of funding for advocacy groups supporting them.
We will be reflecting on the asks made by Survivors, advocates and campaigners at this Parliamentary event, and collating a list of actions for the new government and the soon-to-be-appointed Windrush Commissioner.
Find out more here or get in touch with Windrush Grants and Programme Manager: Emmanuelle Andrews
For media inquiries, please contact Policy & Communications Officer: Nasrin Warsame
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- The groups linked are funded by ARE’s Windrush Justice Programme ↩︎