Six years into the Home Office’s Windrush scandal a significant backlog still exists in the processing of cases and payment of compensation claims. The government’s own estimates suggest more than 50,000 people may be affected. Ahead of this year’s Windrush Day celebrations campaigners are demanding citizenship to be granted to all families affected by the scandal within the first 100 days of the new government. A coalition of anti-racism charities and groups has unveiled a “Home Office scandal manifesto”, outlining key demands for new ministers after the general election on July 4th.
Glenda Caesar, community campaigner and survivor of the Windrush scandal, said: “It’s time the Windrush generation received full and rightful recognition as British citizens and real progress is made to rectify the harm done by the scandal. With this important Windrush manifesto launch, Windrush advocates and community leaders would like to remind all political parties that the Windrush generation were invited to the UK to help rebuild Great Britain. They were proud to call themselves British. Remembering their vital contribution, we all ask the next government to end discriminatory legislation and unfair practices that foster hostility towards the Windrush generation and their families.”
The Windrush Compensation Scheme was created in 2019 but human rights, race equality, and community groups have criticised it as unfit for purpose due to its complexity and delays. As of March 2024, the scheme has disbursed £85.86m across 2,382 claims – out of a predicted 15,000 eligible claims – and provided citizenship documents to more than 16,800 individuals.
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