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The government has acknowledged that at least 53 individuals have passed away while awaiting compensation for the Windrush scandal.
In 2019, the Windrush compensation program was established in response to the revelation that the Home Office had incorrectly denied employment, healthcare, and benefits to British individuals, primarily from the Caribbean. Some of these individuals were even at risk of deportation, despite their legal right to reside in the United Kingdom.
The government made a commitment to correct the injustices that occurred, but the program has faced ongoing criticism for being inefficient in providing compensation to victims. As the fifth anniversary nears, official data reveals that many of those entitled to receive compensation, including 10 in the last six months, have passed away before receiving their payout.
Following Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a revised compensation scheme for victims of the Horizon IT scandal, where many subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted due to flawed software, activists are urging the government to also provide justice for those affected by the Windrush and infected blood scandals.
When asked about the matter by the Scottish National Party during this week’s session in the Commons, Tom Pursglove, the minister responsible for legal migration, stated that in cases where the person making a compensation claim has passed away, the team works closely with their chosen representative to expedite payment of the compensation to their family.
According to information released by the Home Office, approximately £75 million had been disbursed by November 2023.
“Our main focus is to guarantee that individuals receive the highest amount of compensation in a timely manner,” the minister stated.
Labour representative for Streatham, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, stated to The Independent that the current government’s actions have once again shown their lack of trustworthiness in addressing a serious issue.
“They have remained passive as additional Windrush victims have passed away without receiving any form of reparation; it was evident from the start that the program should have been separate from the authority of the Home Office.”
“The Windrush compensation scheme, under this administration, is a scandal within itself.”
In the recent report from the Home Office, it was stated that just over £75 million had been distributed by the conclusion of November.
Thirteen percent of the pending claims in the system had been awaiting processing for a minimum of 12 months.
According to historian Kayne Kawasaki, the way the government has treated the Windrush generation is deemed as ‘unacceptable’.
A recently launched initiative, supported by Baroness Doreen Lawrence and musician Annie Lennox, is urging for the “inadequate” compensation system to expedite its process.
The Justice4Windrush movement is calling for prompt and complete restitution for those affected by the controversy. Notable advocates for the cause include actress Hannah Waddingham, TV host Jay Blades, and historian Kayne Kawasaki.
The loss of life was referred to as a “tragedy” by Mr. Kawasaki.
According to him, every time a Windrush claimant passes away without receiving justice, it has a negative impact on the Black British community. The Windrush generation stepped up to aid Britain when it needed it, and now they require assistance to rectify the injustices they have faced.
The way in which this government has treated them is not acceptable.
The group is also advocating for the reestablishment of the team assigned to handle the aftermath of the scandal, which was dissolved last year.
The Home Office announced in September that the plan to address the scandal and implement change would no longer be overseen by a separate team. Instead, it will be integrated into our daily operations and tasks. Additionally, the Windrush Working Group had its last meeting. This group was created in June 2020 to facilitate collaboration between community leaders and high-level officials from government departments.
In June of last year, the UK celebrated the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush’s arrival. This marked the commemoration of the ship’s 1948 journey, bringing Caribbean individuals who responded to Britain’s request for assistance in filling post-war labor gaps.
A spokesperson for the Home Office stated: “The government is fully dedicated to rectifying the injustices of the Windrush scandal and ensuring that those impacted receive the appropriate compensation.”
We have already given out over £75 million in compensation and we are constantly working to enhance the process to ensure that people receive the highest possible amount as soon as possible. We also offer extensive assistance to assist individuals in accessing and applying for the compensation program.
The program will stay available until it is necessary, so everyone can apply without being stopped. We are still connecting with and involving communities throughout the UK to urge more individuals to step forward. This ensures they receive accurate information regarding their eligibility and proper guidance to assist with their submission.
Source: independent.co.uk
