The Standard | Windrush Campaigners hold vigil in Brixton
Campaigners hold vigil in Brixton to mark anniversary of Windrush scandal being revealed
The struggles faced by the Windrush generation “must never be in vain”, descendants said as they held a candlelit vigil to mark the sixth anniversary since the scandal was exposed.
More than 50 people, including campaigners and religious leaders, gathered in Windrush Square in Brixton on Saturday afternoon.
Candles were lit and speeches and prayers read to remember those who have passed away and to thank those who continue to campaign.
Bishop Doctor Desmond Jaddoo, the chairman of the Windrush National Organisation, told the PA news agency that the sacrifices and contributions made by the Windrush generation must never be forgotten.
“We must never forget what happened. We are on the road to justice. The thing about it is that we settle for second best and this time that must not be allowed to happen,” he said.
“This isn’t just about those who have suffered. This is about ensuring that future generations don’t go through anything like this again. In addition to that, some 50 plus people have lost their lives, they’ve not made it through the journey. Their losses must never be in vain.”
The scandal first received widespread public attention in 2018, with the Government facing a furious backlash over the treatment of the Windrush generation – named after a ship that brought migrants to Britain from the Caribbean in 1948.
Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 were automatically granted indefinite leave to remain.
But some were later challenged over their immigration status and denied access to healthcare and benefits, unlawfully detained and even deported, despite living in the UK legally for decades.
The Government promised to right the wrongs of what had happened but the compensation scheme, launched in April 2019, has been repeatedly criticised for the speed at which claims are being processed and payments made.
Professor Patrick Vernon, a Windrush campaigner, said “the community does not trust the Home Office” and called for the compensation scheme to be “completely revamped”.
“The community does not trust the Home Office. It is the same directorate which runs the compensation scheme that also deals with deportation flights and detention centres,” he said.
“So, it doesn’t feel like there’s any kind of neutrality. The Government talks about righting the wrongs, so I think it is only fair and reasonable for there to be a degree of independence.”
Prof Vernon said there needs to be more public awareness of the “human tragedy” of the scandal. He said victims and their descendants suffered “personal stress, depression, and anxiety” as a result of the scandal and at least 53 people had died before receiving compensation.
An Age UK report released in February found that a number of areas of the compensation scheme had failed those affected. It said that by the end of 2023, only 1,993 individuals had been offered compensation, fewer than one in seven (13%) of all whom the Home Office estimated to be eligible.
The charity has called for an independent body to take over the running of the compensation scheme.
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