Windrush Day Statement

Today, on Windrush Day, the Parliamentary Black Caucus joins together to celebrate the Windrush generation and their immense contribution to this country in all walks of life.

The Empire Windrush ship brought people from Jamaica, Trinidad, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and much more. Many served in the British armed forces in World War Two. They also helped to rebuild Britain after the war, and their efforts cannot be forgotten.

We acknowledge that the horrific Windrush scandal remains unresolved. They suffered so much – whether it was the loss of employment, the loss of access to benefits, the loss of access to housing and homelessness, or the loss of access to healthcare and education. Some were even wrongly deported. This injustice is still felt today.

We say clearly: justice delayed is justice denied.

Access to the Windrush Compensation Scheme must be improved. We welcome the recent investment to support survivors to access the compensation they deserve. Progress must be sped up and delivered with compassion. Over 50,000 people have been affected by this. Some will die, and some have died, before they see justice.

We welcome Reverend Clive Foster MBE as the first ever Windrush Commissioner, as the Government commits to deliver that justice. We are hopeful that, with his significant experience and community leadership, improvements will be made.

We put on record our support for Wendy Williams’ Lessons Learned Review and urge the Government to fully implement all 30 of its recommendations as soon as possible.

We want this to be treated like other similar schemes, for example those for the infected blood scandal or the Post Office scandal, that includes an independent compensation scheme away from the Home Office.

The strength and the resilience of the Windrush generation is often overlooked. So, we welcome the Government’s funding of the National Windrush Museum to tell that story. We also urge the Government to consider establishing an Emancipation Educational Trust; a building where we can talk not only about the Windrush injustice, but also the injustice of people being enslaved. It would also highlight the positive stories hidden from history.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said that whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. That is the interrelated structure of reality. We are all intertwined in life’s journey, and as racism is increasing in some parts of the country and people are trying to divide us, we must heed those words.

We must all play our part in stopping this division. Let’s start by coming together today to celebrate the Windrush generation, and their descendants, who continue to make an invaluable and rich contribution to society, culturally, socially and economically.

This occasion serves as an important reminder, that Black history is British history.

Dawn Butler MP

Chair, Parliamentary Black Caucus

Diane Abbott MP

Lord Bailey of Paddington

Josh Babarinde MP

Lord Woolley of Woodford

Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

Paulette Hamilton MP

Kim Johnson MP

Marsha De Cordova MP

Kate Osamor MP

Clive Lewis MP