GMB Congress celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Windrush but condemns despicable U-turn on recommendations to Home Office
GMB Congress heard that three years after recommendations made in the Williams report, the government has done a U-turn on 3 key reform commitments.
The Home Office’s mistake of classifying thousands of UK residents as illegal has destroyed the lives of so many who have made such enormous contributions to British society.
Suella Braverman, Home Secretary announced in a written ministerial statement in January 2023: “After considering officials’ advice, I have decided not to proceed with recommendations 3 (run reconciliation events), 9 (introduce migrants’ commissioner) and 10 (review the remit and role of the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration) in their original format.”
Congress called for GMB’s Parliamentary, Equality and Race Groups to highlight and condemn this despicable U-turn and campaign for UK Government to keep ALL the promises they made to those seeking justice.
Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent Central said:
“Whilst many seem to want to move on from the scandal the people wrongly deported, denied their pensions, benefits and medical treatment, lost jobs, homes and more – cannot move on. Their lives utterly devastated by the institutional racism of the Conservative government.
In fact, we know that many of the people treated so terribly by the government have since died whilst waiting for justice. I often wonder if that's part of this cruel government strategy. And to add insult to injury instead of trying to put right this major historical wrong, this Home Secretary is instead looking to row back on reforms they had previously committed to.
“June 22nd marks the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks. These were people invited to this country, to help rebuild it after the destruction of World War Two, people like my parents. We owe them our praise and our thanks. They lived, worked, and raised families here in the UK, contributing so much to our society and they still do.
“We need to repair the massive collective harm which has contributed to the generational trauma that has been done and put right this burning injustice once and for all. Instead, the government only drag their feet and go back on its promises, for example by refusing to establish a migrants’ commissioner as recommended by the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.
“This is a disgraceful time in our history. I condemn this government and their inaction. I won’t let Parliament and this government forget what they have done. Enough is enough, justice for Windrush!”
