The Windrush Generation
In 1948, hundreds of immigrants from the Caribbean arrived in the UK aboard the HMT Empire Windrush, which docked in Tilbury, Essex. There were 1027 passengers on board, according to the National Archives, which has the ship’s passenger list. Over 800 people indicated that they had previously lived in the Caribbean. Jamaicans made up several hundred of the passengers, but there were also people from Trinidad, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Barbados. The Windrush generation was made up of these travellers as well as others who arrived in the UK on other ships prior to 1971(1). They made a substantial contribution to the economy and society of post-war Britain by being asked to fill employment shortages.
The Windrush Scandal
The Windrush Scandal emerged in 2018 when it was revealed that many of these Windrush migrants, who had lived in the UK for decades, were being wrongly detained, deported, or denied essential services. This was due to a hostile environment policy implemented by the government, which led to increased scrutiny and bureaucratic hurdles for immigrants.
The scandal highlighted several serious issues:
- Racial Bias: Many Windrush victims reported being mistreated and discriminated against due to their race. Despite having arrived legally, they were often required to provide extensive documentation to prove their right to live in the UK. This led to wrongful detentions, deportations, and denial of essential services.
One of Genisys ARCt’s clients stated “A co-worker called her a
black bastard and told her to go back to her country”. Report writer Wendy Williams indicated that “race clearly played a part in what occurred and some failings could be indicators of indirect discrimination”(2)
- Systemic Failures: The Home Office’s incompetence and lack of empathy were major factors in the scandal. Key systemic failures include:
- Hostile Environment Policy: A set of measures introduced in the UK in 2012. It required various organizations, including the NHS, landlords, and employers, to check the immigration status of individuals and refuse services to those who couldn’t prove their right to be in the UK. This created a climate of fear and suspicion towards immigrants(3).
- Loss of Records: Many records of the Windrush generation’s arrival in the UK were destroyed, making it difficult for individuals to prove their right to be in the country.
- Lack of Cultural Sensitivity: The historical background of the entrance of the Windrush generation was not completely understood by the Home Office. An important but frequently forgotten fact is that these people were asked to assist in the post-World War II reconstruction of the United Kingdom. As a result of this ignorance, they were seen as fresh immigrants rather than seasoned British citizens.
- Ineffective Complaint Mechanisms: People frequently found the complaint procedures to be intricate and challenging to understand, especially those who were not familiar with the UK judicial system or had poor English skills. Long delays and insufficient replies would occur.
The Impact on Individuals
The Windrush Scandal had devastating consequences for countless individuals. Many lost their jobs and homes and were separated from their families due to wrongful deportation. An article written by Jane and other authors(4) stated that unemployment was one of the first consequences of the scandal for many of the survivors and sparked a ripple effect of consequences.
The psychological trauma caused by these experiences was immense. In the same article, it was revealed that the hostile environment policies had a more detrimental effect on psychological distress among Black Caribbean people than the coronavirus lockdown had on the population as a whole. No other minoritized ethnic group experienced an increase in psychological distress compared to people from a white ethnic group during this period.
Government response
In response to the scandal, the government has:
- Apologised: The Home Secretary issued a formal apology to the Windrush generation.
- Introduced a Compensation Scheme: A compensation scheme was established to provide financial assistance to those affected by the scandal(5).
- Legal Status Regularization: Measures were put in place to help individuals affected by the scandal regularize their immigration status.
- Independent Review: An independent review was conducted to investigate the causes of the scandal and make recommendations for improvement. The Windrush Lessons Learned Review, chaired by Wendy Williams, provides an in-depth analysis of the events leading up to the Windrush Scandal(6).
Bibliography
- (1) – Adina Campbell (2023). Windrush generation: Who Are They and Why Are They Facing problems? BBC News. [online] 27 Jul. Available at: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43782241)
- (2) – Home Office ‘ignorant of race’ over Windrush. (2020). BBC News. [online] 19 Mar. Available at: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51961933)
- (3) – Parliament.uk. (2019). Windrush: Home Office failed in duty to protect people’s rights – Committees – UK Parliament. [online] Available at:(https://committees.parliament.uk/work/3927/windrush-generation-and-the-home-office-inquiry/news/98391/windrush-home-office-failed-in-duty-to-protect-peoples-rights/)
- (4) – Janes, K., Vernon, P., Estefan, D., Sheibani, F., Caesar, G. and Burgess, R.A. (2024). The ties that bind: Understanding the mental health consequences of the Windrush Scandal and hostile immigration policies on survivors in the UK. SSM – Mental Health, 6, p.100352. doi: (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560324000574)
- (5) – GOV.UK. (n.d.). Windrush Scheme: full eligibility details. [online] Available at: (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-scheme/windrush-scheme)
- (6) – Williams, W. (2020). Independent review by Wendy Williams. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e74984fd3bf7f4684279faa/6.5577_HO_Windrush_Lessons_Learned_Review_WEB_v2.pdf
