Windrush Scandal

Between 1948 and 1988, thousands of people from Commonwealth nations, former British colonies and the rest of the world came to the UK to rebuild the economy after World War Two. They became known as the “Windrush Generation”.

Many were classed as Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC), a new status introduced by the British Nationality Act 1948 entitling them to live and work in the UK as British subjects. The Immigration Act 1971 created the concept of ‘right of abode’ and those with settled status as of 1 January 1973, including those of the Windrush generation, were automatically granted indefinite leave to remain, requiring no further documentation.

In 1981, the British Nationality Act replaced CUKC with new citizenship categories and registration requirements. The Home Office’s ‘hostile environment’ policies, introduced from 2012, required landlords, employers and NHS providers to check individuals’ immigration status. The Windrush generation’s lack of documentation was wrongly taken as evidence that they were in the UK illegally.

As a result, people lost their jobs, homes, healthcare and were detained. At least 83 individuals who arrived before 1973 were unlawfully deported.

Want to know more? liverpooladvocatesforwindrush.org

The Home Office failed to keep proper records of those from the Windrush generation who were granted citizenship after 1948 and destroyed landing cards that could have proven lawful residence.

Many people were not informed that they had to apply for documentation to prove their status or re-register for citizenship.

Acknowledging its wrongdoing, in 2018 the government introduced a compensation scheme, but the process is complex and there is a huge backlog of claims. As a result, less than 6% of the Windrush Generation have accessed compensation.

“I feel let down; I feel terrible; I don’t see how an organisation calling itself the Home Office can treat people like this; I don’t understand how the government can treat people like this”

Hubert Howard, victim of the Windrush Scandal, The Guardian

“One man had been to UK schools, registered with a GP, held a National Insurance number, yet the Home Office said there was ‘no trace’ of him”

Wendy Williams, Windrush Lessons Learned,
Independent Review, 2018