The Windrush commissioner has issued a stark warning about a pressing "hurry for justice" as more victims of the scandal pass away without receiving redress, while stakeholders intensify calls for a statutory public inquiry and legislative reforms. Concerns are mounting that a potential Reform government could derail progress toward justice for those affected.
Urgent Calls for Action at People's Inquiry Symposium
Speaking at a people's inquiry symposium in London for those impacted by the Windrush scandal, Rev Clive Foster emphasized the critical need for immediate action to deliver justice to British residents whose lives were devastated after being wrongly classified as illegal immigrants. Foster, a pastor from Nottingham appointed to oversee the government's response, stressed that the prolonged duration of the scandal itself should motivate swift progress, regardless of the political landscape.
"We are sadly losing many of that generation who suffered and time is not on our side," Foster stated. "I am a man in a hurry for justice." His parents arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1959, giving him a personal connection to the issue.
Symposium Highlights Ongoing Struggles
The second people's inquiry symposium, held in north London, brought together survivors, campaigners, and advocates focused on establishing clear pathways to justice with victims' voices at the forefront. Participants continued to pressure the government to launch a statutory public inquiry into the scandal, which was first exposed by Guardian investigative reporting in 2017. That reporting revealed thousands of legal UK residents had been mistakenly labeled as immigration offenders.
Since then, government schemes have provided immigration status and compensation to those affected, granting documentation to 17,000 people and compensation payments to 2,600 of 8,800 claims as of July 2024. However, many victims still struggle with a process described as inefficient, bureaucratic, and retraumatizing.
Personal Stories of Neglect and Bureaucracy
Among those still affected is Deborah, who has been supporting her brother in Barbados for decades after he was unable to return to the UK following his arrival as a Commonwealth citizen in 1966. "He didn't leave with the intention of not coming back," said Deborah, who requested her surname be withheld. Last year, the Home Office instructed her to apply for the Windrush scheme, though her family was unaware of it as her mother did not arrive on the Windrush boat—the 1948 vessel that has become symbolic of the scandal.
Deborah's claim was rejected due to insufficient evidence, prompting her to travel to Barbados recently to gather documents. "There's so much negligence," she lamented. "There's got to be a public inquiry and the voices of the victims heard and listened to and tangible things, not just apologies."
Legislative Changes and Political Concerns
While some at the symposium expressed fears that shifts in Labour's immigration policy could create a "next generation of Windrush," campaigners like Garrick Prayogg argued that legislative change is the only solution. "If we don't get legislation before the next general election in place, what will happen if Reform come in?" Prayogg questioned, calling for reforms to the hostile environment policy that precipitated the scandal.
Patrick Vernon, founder of Windrush Day, noted that while the current Labour government may not ease immigration policy, other changes are essential, including a public inquiry and relocating the compensation scheme from the Home Office. He highlighted disparities in treatment, asking, "Why is it black people are given less money, no legal aid, less support?" referencing the Post Office and infected blood scandals for comparison. Vernon added pointedly, "You get a better service with Ryanair than the Home Office."
Progress and Persistent Challenges
Six months into Foster's appointment, the Labour party has adopted many of his recommendations to reform the Windrush compensation scheme, pledging to improve the government's response. Yet, years into the scandal, the journey toward justice remains fraught with obstacles, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive action to address the enduring legacy of this national disgrace.
