Yvette Cooper says new government initiatives to deliver Windrush justice must drive enduring change that matters
In a written statement to Parliament today, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper outlined new government initiatives to address the ongoing injustices faced by the Windrush Generation.
Image credit: WikipediaThe Government is establishing a new role of Windrush Commissioner to act an independent advocate for all those affected by the scandal. The Commissioner will oversee the delivery of compensation, and drive the implementation of Wendy Williams' Windrush Lessons Learned Review.
In addition to the new Commissioner, Cooper also announced the re-establishment of a Windrush Unit within the Home Office. Reporting to the Departmental Ethics Adviser, this unit will be tasked with ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
"This renewed work and the recruitment of a dedicated Windrush Commissioner must drive enduring change that matters to the Windrush community and has wider impact across the whole department and across Government," the Home Secretary said.
Speaking for the Government in the House of Commons today, Abena Oppong-Asare MP stated: "[W]e have been calling for justice for those treated so terribly by previous Governments, including the full implementation of the recommendations of the Wendy Williams review. I have called for that in the House multiple times, and I am pleased that today, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has announced that the Government will fulfil their manifesto commitments in full. We will appoint a Windrush commissioner to oversee compensation and act as a trusted voice; we will establish a new Windrush unit in the Home Office to drive things forward; and we are injecting £1.5 million into a programme of grant funding for organisations to support people’s applications for compensation. This will speed up and clarify processes that have been shamefully slow and difficult. We will continue to listen to the voices of Windrush, honour their contribution to this country and seek redress for the scandal that has engulfed so many of them. At last—after too long—the Windrush generation will see some measure of justice."
The Home Secretary's full written statement is below:
Windrush
Statement made on 24 October 2024
Statement UIN HCWS167
Statement made by
Yvette Cooper
The Secretary of State for the Home Department
The Windrush scandal saw Windrush and Commonwealth communities who have the right to live in this country victimised because they were unable to prove that right through no fault of their own. However, the justice and change victims deserved has not been delivered and there are some still waiting for the compensation they are due.
I want to update the House on the Government's progress in fulfilling our Manifesto commitment to the Windrush Generation, ensuring they receive the support they deserve quickly and efficiently. Additionally, we are reigniting the vital transformation work from the Wendy Williams Windrush Lessons Learned Review to embed lasting changes in how the Department serves all communities.
We are establishing a Windrush Commissioner; an independent advocate for all those affected. This role will oversee the compensation scheme's delivery, the implementation of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, and act as a trusted voice for families and communities, driving improvements and promoting lasting change.
As promised, we have re-established a Windrush Unit in the Home Office reporting to the Departmental Ethics Adviser and dedicated to driving forward the action needed to ensure that what happened to the Windrush generation can never happen again to any part of our society. The new unit stands ready to support the Windrush Commissioner when appointed.
This renewed work and the recruitment of a dedicated Windrush Commissioner must drive enduring change that matters to the Windrush community and has wider impact across the whole department and across Government.
Regarding the Windrush Compensation Scheme, during the lead-up to the general election, we frequently heard from the community and stakeholders that the application process is too complicated, and the available support for making a claim is inadequate. This is discouraging some people from seeking the compensation they deserve. To address this, we are injecting a £1.5m spend into a program of grant funding for organisations to provide essential advocacy and support for applicants who need additional help with the application process, ensuring claimants feel supported. For many, filing a claim is intimidating and requires them to revisit past traumas. By sharing their experiences with impartial community members, we want to make this process as supportive as possible. This assistance will be offered alongside but separate from existing claims support, giving claimants flexibility and choice regarding the type of help they want and where they can access it.
We are also rapidly reviewing the issue of private and occupational pensions losses which has caused real frustration and concern.
Finally, this government is determined to hear first-hand and to learn from the Windrush generation and their families. We know for some the hurt and trauma is too much. But, as we look to turn the page and embark on the reset we promised in opposition, we want those who want and are able to tell their story to be heard.
Only by hearing and reflecting on the impact that policy making had and continues to have on theirs and their families' lives, can government ensure that we never let such an injustice happen again.