-
Windrush Day is a national day to celebrate the extraordinary and enduring contribution of the Windrush generation to the UK. I wanted to ensure that, to mark Windrush Day, Members from across the House had the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of the Windrush generation in their communities. The Government promised to right the wrongs of the Windrush scandal, but are failing to do so. We cannot let this year’s Windrush Day celebration pass without paying special tribute to the diverse workforce in our NHS and social care, public transport and other frontline roles, who have worked tirelessly through the covid-19 pandemic, often sacrificing their own health and wellbeing to provide treatment and care to others.
-
Congratulates the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood on her introduction to this debate, raises concerns about racial discrimination in prisons based on a recent study, shares personal experiences of helping black and Asian professionals who faced unfair treatment by their employers or regulatory bodies, calls for an investigation into wrongful prosecution cases like Gurpal Virdi's, emphasises the importance of giving everyone equal opportunities regardless of race.
-
Commemorates Windrush Day 2021 to honour the Windrush generation's contributions while acknowledging the injustice they faced, criticises the institutional racism and hostile environment policy implemented by the Government which led to many lives being torn apart, highlights issues with the Windrush compensation scheme including a lengthy approval process and lack of independent review for offered compensation.
-
Celebrates the Windrush generation, laments past mistreatment, and discusses improvements to the compensation scheme. He also emphasises the importance of awareness, empathy, contrition, and humility in addressing racial issues.
-
Intervenes by drawing parallels between the Windrush experience and Northern Ireland's reconciliation efforts, suggesting lessons can be learned from Northern Ireland’s peace process and shared society initiatives.
-
Congratulates Helen Hayes on securing the debate and highlights the potential for another immigration scandal similar to Windrush. Emphasises the need to address the reasons why many from the Windrush generation were wrongly detained, deported and denied legal rights. Cites Wendy Williams’ “Windrush Lessons Learned Review” which identified a long-term erosion of rights coupled with a lack of consideration of impacts on individuals by successive governments. Discusses evidence showing that policies like the right to rent scheme discriminate on nationality and racial grounds. Expresses concern for EU nationals who missed the deadline for settled status, similar concerns for vulnerable groups such as elderly people who may face issues without family support navigating complicated immigration systems.
-
Congratulates the hon. Friend on securing the debate to celebrate the Windrush generation from Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Discusses her visit to Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School for a Windrush Day celebration where students played steel pans and sang about the Windrush experience. Acknowledges Arthur Torrington of the Windrush Foundation and highlights the need for a memorial at Windrush Square. Criticises the Windrush compensation scheme, noting that 2,367 people have applied since its inception but only 687 claims have received payments. Expresses concern over persistent Home Office failings in administering the scheme and registering citizenship status. Calls for the scheme to be moved out of the Home Office due to a lack of trust. Emphasises the need to address racial injustice and institutional racism, advocating for education on slavery and colonialism.
-
Celebrates the Windrush generation for their courage, determination, and contributions to Britain. Acknowledges the need for a curriculum change to teach about the history of the Windrush generation. Mentions Slough's large population of Anguillan heritage and various community groups that contribute positively to society. Emphasises the importance of learning from history to prevent future racism. Honours Lydia Simmons, who was the first black person and Afro-Caribbean woman to become a Mayor in England and received an OBE. Condemns the Windrush scandal as a blight on Britain's recent past. Criticises the Government for failing to properly implement the compensation scheme for those affected by the scandal.
-
Celebrated the British Caribbean community, especially those who came to the UK after World War II. Paid tribute to Patrick Vernon's campaign for Windrush Day. Highlighted the NHS's reliance on immigration from the Caribbean. Criticised the slow progress of the Windrush compensation scheme and called for urgent outreach work and improvements in how cases are handled. Urged the Government to remove the compensation scheme from the Home Office, provide substantial funding for outreach schemes, and include a full apology with every award.
-
Expressed gratitude towards the Windrush generation's contribution to rebuilding Britain. Criticised the Government for failing to match words with actions regarding compensation and justice for the Windrush generation. Highlighted ongoing injustices such as immigration health surcharges, 'Go Home' vans, and lack of proper apologies from leaders. Demanded transparency on how many people in Luton North have been awarded compensation and criticised the lengthy response time by the Government.
-
The compensation scheme for the Windrush scandal is described as catastrophic, with more than 21 members of the Windrush generation having died awaiting compensation. Margaret Ferrier emphasises the need to process claims quicker and criticises the Government's approach to frozen pensions, highlighting cases such as Nancy Hunte and Monica Philip who have suffered due to these policies. She urges the Government to clarify their stance on reciprocal pension agreements.
-
As a daughter of the Windrush generation, Claudia Webbe outlines the systemic racism and mistreatment faced by members who contributed significantly to rebuilding post-war Britain. She criticises the Government for their inadequate response to the scandal, noting that only 687 out of an estimated 15,000 eligible individuals have received compensation. Claudia also argues for the independent regulation of the compensation scheme and expresses concern over the Government's denial of structural discrimination.
-
Congratulates the hon. Friend on securing the debate and celebrates the contributions of the Windrush generation. Criticises the Government for creating a hostile environment and calls for an apology and overhaul of the compensation scheme. Expresses concern over the EU settlement scheme deadline, urging the government to ensure that those who missed it are not unfairly treated. Raises issues about asylum seekers' treatment in Napier barracks and offshore camps in Rwanda, calling for humane policies. Calls on the Government to honour the Windrush generation by putting right past wrongs and ensuring NHS remains publicly owned and funded.
-
The hon. Member for Glasgow North West pays tribute to those affected by the Windrush scandal and campaigners who supported them. She commends colleagues for their consistent advocacy on improving the compensation scheme, including legal aid and changing the standard of proof from beyond reasonable doubt to balance of probabilities. The hon. Member argues that the Home Office’s claim of administrative errors is too much of a coincidence given the hostile environment towards immigrants. She raises concerns about communal accommodation, skilled migrants being expelled despite resolved discrepancies, and EU citizens missing application deadlines due to misinformation. The debate focuses on the Windrush generation's contribution and the complexity of applying for compensation.
-
It is a privilege to close this crucial debate on behalf of the Opposition. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood on her work in securing the debate and leading it. The Windrush generation's impact on every facet of national life is immense, yet they faced severe discrimination upon arrival. The Windrush compensation scheme must be timely, efficient, comprehensive, and sensitive to reflect the gravity of injustice endured by those who dedicated their lives to Britain. At least 21 people have died waiting for justice from the scheme; only 687 out of an estimated 11,500 eligible individuals received compensation. The Government's failure to act swiftly is unacceptable; the Home Secretary agreed that claims need quicker resolution and must be placed in the hands of an independent body away from the Home Office.
-
The Minister highlighted that over 13,000 individuals have been provided with documentation confirming their status since April 2018. He also mentioned the Windrush compensation scheme and stated there is now no cap on the amount to be paid out, with more than £32.4 million offered across 732 claims since April 2019. The Minister reassured that an independent review can be conducted by the Adjudicator’s Office for those dissatisfied with their compensation offer.
-
The Labour MP thanked every right hon. and hon. Member who spoke in the debate, acknowledging both the contributions of the Windrush generation and the injustices they faced. She welcomed contributions from other speakers but criticised the Minister's refusal to accept an independently administered compensation scheme as tone deaf.