The Home Secretary Amber Rudd was forced to apologise in Parliament yesterday over the plight of the Windrush Generation who were wrongly threatened with deportation in what was described as a “day of national shame.”
So who were the ‘Windrush Generation’?
The term refers to the thousands of people who arrived in the UK as children during the first wave of Commonwealth immigration, beginning with the arrival of the ship HMT Empire Windrush from the Caribbean in 1948, and ending in 1971.
They came due to labour shortages in the UK after the Second World War. There are no official figures to say how many people belong to the Windrush Generation, but estimates suggest around half a million are still living in the UK today.
So they’re here legally, right?
They were granted citizenship upon arrival. Unfortunately, the Home Office didn’t keep any records of those granted leave to remain, or issue any paperwork confirming as much. This makes it difficult for those wishing prove they are in the UK legally to do so.
But they’ve been living and working here for decades, right? And many have been here since childhood.
Right. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has said that there was “absolutely no question” of the Windrush Generation’s right to remain.
Great! So what’s the problem?
Those lacking documents proving their legal status are now being told to they need evidence in order to continue working in the UK, access services such as the NHS, or even to remain here.
Ah, this is the ‘hostile environment.’
Yes. The Government wants to make it so difficult to live here that people will choose to return to their countries of origin.
Surely the Government can’t force those who’ve lived their whole lives here to move ‘back’ to a country they barely know?!
You’re forgetting who’s in Government, pal. Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes told Channel 4 News that some of the Windrush Generation have “potentially” been repatriated “in error.”
Fuck me. I once forgot to scan an item at the self-service checkout in error. Wrongfully repatriating someone isn’t just “an error.” Christ. So they just sent them back and left them to it?
No mate. The Home Office has helpfully created a document called COMING HOME TO JAMAICA, in which returnees are advised to “try to be ‘Jamaican’ – use local accents and dialect (overseas accents can attract unwanted attention.”
You’re shitting me.
I’m afraid not.
Didn’t Amber Rudd say that none of the Windrush Generation had actually been deported though?
No, she told the Commons that she “does not have any evidence” suggesting deportations have taken place.
Not like it’s literally her job to know that, then?
Amber Rudd also apologised for the “appalling” treatment of the Windrush Generation, and suggested the Home Office had “lost sight of individuals” and become “too concerned with policy.”
Wow. That doesn’t reflect well on whoever is in charge at the Home Office.
Well…
Who is in charge at the Home Office?
Amber Rudd.
Oh.
