Victims of the Windrush scandal need justice, not empty apologies

4th July, 2019

Today in Parliament I told the government that their response to the pain, hardship and injustice caused by the Windrush scandal simply has not been good enough.

I have been assisting a number of people in Bristol West who lost their jobs, were denied benefits, and had their ability to travel curtailed as a direct result of Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policy which affected so many Commonwealth citizens living in the UK.

So I am outraged that many of the honoured citizens I have been working with tell me they still have not received compensation from the government. This is mostly because the level of evidence the government are asking victims of this scandal to provide is absurd. But it is also a result of delays and administrative failures within the Home Office, which ministers must put right.

One case particularly sums up the ongoing injustice people continue to face. One constituent, who was prevented from coming back to the UK for many years, was eventually allowed to return and was told they would be supported with housing and benefits. But, in reality, they have not received any support, they are now homeless, and they have been told they are ineligible to apply for benefits because they have been out of the country. We are doing all we can to assist this person, but they should never have been put in this horrible position.

The successive apologies by the Prime Minister and by the Home Secretary are meaningless if words are not followed up with justice. I will continue to stand up and challenge the government until everyone affected by this awful scandal receives the compensation and help to which they are entitled.

Justice for victims of the Windrush scandal requires more than apologies

Today in Parliament I told the government that their response to the pain, hardship and injustice caused by the Windrush scandal simply has not been good enough.I have been assisting a number of people in Bristol West who lost their jobs, were denied benefits, and had their ability to travel curtailed as a direct result of Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policy which affected so many Commonwealth citizens living in the UK.So I am outraged that many of the honoured citizens I have been working with tell me they still have not received compensation from the government. This is mostly because the level of evidence the government are asking victims of this scandal to provide is absurd. But it is also a result of delays and administrative failures within the Home Office, which ministers must put right.One case particularly sums up the ongoing injustice people continue to face. One constituent, who was prevented from coming back to the UK for many years, was eventually allowed to return and was told they would be supported with housing and benefits. But, in reality, they have not received any support, they are now homeless, and they have been told they are ineligible to apply for benefits because they have been out of the country. We are doing all we can to assist this person, but they should never have been put in this horrible position.The successive apologies by the Prime Minister and by the Home Secretary are meaningless if words are not followed up with justice. I will continue to stand up and challenge the government until everyone affected by this awful scandal receives the compensation and help to which they are entitled.

Posted by Thangam Debbonaire MP for Bristol West on Thursday, July 4, 2019