We’ll put right the Windrush scandal wrongs, says Priti Patel

Priti Patel insisted she was determined to “right the wrongs and injustices” suffered by thousands of people from Commonwealth countries wrongly told they were illegally living in the UK. She also revealed that more than £1million has now been offered to victims of the scheme in compensation. “I will do all I can to make sure that more people are helped and more people are compensated in full. And if additional resources are needed, they will be provided,” the Home Secretary said.

Ms Patel made her announcement to MPs yesterday following a report by Wendy Williams, an inspector of constabulary, into the failings that led to the scandal.

The report’s recommendations included:

• The Home Secretary should appoint Migrants' Commissioner, responsible for speaking up for migrants and those affected by the immigration system.
• The Government should host a programme of reconciliation events with members of the Windrush generation.
• Home Office staff should undertake a comprehensive programme covering the history of the UK, its relationship with the rest of the world and its colonial history.

In a Commons statement, Ms Patel said: "I was clear when Wendy Williams published her Lessons Learned Review that I would listen and I would act.

"I have heard what she has said and I will be accepting the recommendations she has made in full.

"I am committed to ensuring that the Home Office delivers for each part of the community it serves and I will come back to update the House on how we will be implementing the recommendations before the summer recess."

Ms Patel said work was continuing to ensure that those who suffered as part of the Windrush scandal will receive the documentation and the compensation they need.

"So far over 12,000 people have been granted documentation by the Windrush task force, including over 5,900 grants of citizenship and the compensation scheme continues to make payments to compensate the losses and the impairs individuals suffered as a result of not being able to demonstrate their lawful status,” she said.

"The rate of claims has already increased significantly in the last few months.

"As of the end of March more than £360,000 had been awarded and further offers have been made of approximately £280,000.

"And I can confirm today that over £1 million has been offered in claims so far and more payments and offers are being made each week."

Ms Patel added: "My determination to right the wrongs and the injustices suffered by the Windrush generation is undiminished and I will do all I can to make sure that more people are helped and more people are compensated in full. And if additional resources are needed, they will be provided."

Wendy Williams' review, which was published in March, was critical of the "hostile environment" policy operated by successive governments to tackle illegal immigration.

It concluded that the Home Office had shown "ignorance and thoughtlessness" on the issue of race when some people were incorrectly told that they did not have the right to be in Britain.

Ms Patel has previously publicly apologised for the failings of the Windrush scandal in a statement in the Commons.

Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds criticised the Government for slow progress in compensating those hit by the scandal.

He said: "The Government's Windrush compensation scheme managed to compensate just 60 people in its first year of operation.

"(Ms Patel) talked about more progress today but she must know that that rate of progress is just too slow given the number of years that have elapsed since this scandal first came to light and already this scheme has been in operation for over a year."

Ms Patel said: "I agree, the payments and the way in which payments have been made have been far too slow.

"I'm not apologising for that at all, I have outlined in my statement that it is right that we treat each individual with the respect and dignity they deserve. These are complicated cases."