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Windrush Day 2025 2025-06-16
16 June 2025
Lead MP
Helen Hayes
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
Helen Hayes raised concerns about windrush day 2025 2025-06-16 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Acknowledges the 77th anniversary of Windrush, highlighting the contributions of Caribbean migrants to Britain's post-war reconstruction. Emphasises the challenges faced by Windrush pioneers, including racism and discrimination in education. Mentions the need for a more effective compensation scheme for victims of the Windrush scandal.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab/Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Acknowledges the contributions of King’s College hospital staff in Helen Hayes’ constituency. Mentions the statue of Mary Seacole at St Thomas' hospital, highlighting the invaluable role of Windrush pioneers.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
Brings up the experience of black children in education and refers to Eric Huntley, a constituent who established Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications Bookshop and the Black Parents Movement. Emphasises ongoing efforts needed for fair treatment and education for black children.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Queries whether descendants of those deemed emotionally subnormal should receive an apology to acknowledge their experiences from that time period.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Acknowledges the strength and resilience of the Windrush generation, highlighting how they often get overlooked despite enduring significant hardships.
Clive Lewis
Lab
Norwich South
Highlights the structural racism that ties colonialism to current experiences, questioning if looking at this discrimination is seen as unfashionable in today's discourse.
Stella Creasy
Lab/Co-op
Walthamstow
Creasy agreed with Hayes on the importance of fairness in compensation schemes. She expressed horror at evidence showing unequal payments for victims and emphasised the need to right this wrong.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Johnson celebrated the contributions of the Windrush generation to Liverpool, calling for swifter action on fixing the compensation scheme. He highlighted the bureaucratic nature of claims and called for adapting recommendations from the Williams review, rebuilding trust with black Caribbean communities, and reconsidering immigration policies.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Ribeiro-Addy congratulated Hayes on securing the debate and highlighted the importance of recognising the Windrush legacy in her constituency. She emphasised the contributions made by the Windrush generation to society and acknowledged the ongoing struggle for justice.
Harpreet Uppal
Lab
Huddersfield
Uppal highlighted the importance of celebrating the legacy of the Windrush generation in Huddersfield. She mentioned local events and cultural contributions such as the Deighton carnival, Venn Street’s reggae scene, and the Windrush wise words project. She also raised concerns about access to the compensation scheme and advocated for better support from the Home Office.
Steve Reed
Lab
Croydon North
Highlighted personal connection to Brixton, celebrating its diversity and significance of Windrush Square. Mentioned death cases due to delayed compensation during the Windrush scandal. Advocated for faster compensation schemes and urged government outreach to victims. Called for caution in reviewing citizenship policies to avoid entrenching inequalities.
Clive Lewis
Lab
Norwich South
Touched on personal history and complex nature of racial issues, referring to ancestors' experiences with slavery and the Windrush scandal. Criticised previous Conservative reports dismissing structural racism. Emphasised the importance of acknowledging historical complexities rather than romanticising past events.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
My Brent East constituency is one of the most diverse in Europe. Many Windrush individuals served in WWII, and they deserve recognition from their mother country. The Windrush scandal involved loss of employment, benefits, housing, healthcare, education, and progress due to discriminatory policies. The scheme was overly complex and needed legal advice, and only 2,000 have claimed compensation out of over 50,000 affected individuals because of shame and pride in the West Indian community. Labour values must be implemented to address this injustice.
Wolverhampton North East
Windrush generation members like Professor Mel Chevannes helped shape Britain's social fabric through their service and leadership. The Windrush scandal inflicted deep harm on many, exemplified by Paulette Wilson who faced deportation but fought back with support from her MP and community organisations. The Labour Government is taking steps to deliver justice with a £1.5 million advocacy fund, re-establishing the Windrush unit, and recruiting a commissioner for victims' voices.
Lisa Smart
LD
Hazel Grove
The Caribbean and broader black-British communities have made significant contributions to British society, including in healthcare and cultural development. The Windrush scandal highlights ongoing issues of prejudice, discrimination, and inequality. Liberal Democrats are committed to fighting for racial equality and will continue pushing the Government to implement justice for Windrush victims.
Lisa Smart
LD
South East Cornwall
Gratefully acknowledged the concerns raised about indefinite leave to remain reforms. Urged the Government to value new arrivals' contributions and highlighted the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to righting wrongs against the Windrush generation, including urgent implementation of a lessons-learned review and an independent compensation scheme.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Expressed gratitude for the Windrush scheme in Northern Ireland and highlighted its enabling impact on people's lives. Mentioned disproportionate use of stop and search, advocating for careful examination of live facial recognition technology.
Harriet Cross
Con
Gordon and Buchan
Acknowledged the importance of recognising when the state fails its citizens in relation to Windrush. Emphasised compensation efforts with over £100 million granted, and noted ongoing support for community-led initiatives celebrating the Windrush generation.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Welcomes the Windrush Museum and asks if there could be an emancipation educational trust where we can talk about injustice of Windrush as well as slavery.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
Contribution not fully detailed in the given text but supportive of the debate and acknowledges the impact of the Windrush generation on British society.
Helen Hayes
Lab
London, Hayes and Harlington
Thanked Members who contributed to the debate. Noted contributions from various areas of the country reflecting on the Windrush generation's importance. Criticised the shadow minister for not acknowledging faults in the Windrush compensation scheme. Highlighted issues faced by constituents engaging with the compensation process due to high proof threshold and complexity. Reiterated commitment to addressing past wrongs. Emphasised the need for joyous, meaningful celebrations that foster friendship, acceptance, and togetherness while combating racism and injustice.
Government Response
Government Response
Thanked Members for their contributions, acknowledged Basil Watson’s sculpture at Waterloo station, and thanked communities across the country. Announced plans to appoint a new independent Windrush commissioner to ensure voices of the Windrush generations are heard and experiences acknowledged with proper compensation delivered. Committed to improving the Windrush compensation scheme and reducing waiting times for claim allocations from four months to under six weeks.
Shadow Response
None
Shadow Response
No substantial contribution details provided in the given text.
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Assessment & feedback
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