UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon calls for a judge-led inquiry, saying survivors face trauma and injustice, unlike victims of other national scandals.
As reported by The Guardian, the founder of Windrush Day has demanded a judge-led inquiry into the scandal. He condemned the inadequate response to Black Britons’ mistreatment.
Patrick Vernon’s stance on the Windrush scandal
An advocate for Windrush Day, Patrick Vernon, slammed the UK government’s handling of the scandal. He said Black Britons were treated unfairly and ignored.
The campaigner described this year’s Windrush commemorations as “bittersweet.” He cited the deaths of elders and the ongoing injustice faced by survivors.
Mr Vernon said,
“We are witnessing the end of a living era. Significant Windrush pioneers have passed, two of whom were on the Empire Windrush – Alford Gardner, 98, and John Richards, who passed away at 96.”
He stated,
“We’ve lost Lord Herman Ouseley, who was born in the UK but was part of that generation; Sir Geoff Palmer; Nellie Brown, who died this month at 111, and Clover Samuels, the photographer. By the time we reach the 80th anniversary, how many of the original Windrush pioneers will be left?”
The campaigner said,
“We need to make sure their stories are reflected in the national curriculum, encourage families to start documenting the elders and more oral history, at the local, regional and national level. There needs to be a public inquiry. The last review made good recommendations, but because of the way people have been traumatised by the scandal, re-traumatised by the compensation scheme, died before they can be compensated, made homeless, or remain in the Caribbean and Africa, we need a judge-led, independent inquiry that has access to all the documents and can subpoena people.”
He added,
“A lot of Windrush people are asking ‘why are we treated differently? If the Post Office and infected blood scandals can have a public inquiry, why can’t we?”
Keir Starmer’s message on Windrush Day
At a Windrush Day celebration in Downing Street, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scandal a “devastating injustice.”
He criticised the “humiliating treatment of people who’d done so much for our country” and admitted that “the justice victims deserved had not been delivered.”
Which events were held across the UK on Windrush Day?
Windrush Day events across the country included:
- Caribbean Festival in Alexandra Park, Manchester
- The Big Caribbean Lunch in Windrush Square, Brixton
- Forgotten Heroes, a Bristol production about Black WWII veterans
- Football Legends Meet Fans at the Fans Museum, Sunderland, featuring:
- Gary Bennett
- Howard Gayle
- Reuben Agboola
How is the Windrush scandal treated compared to other injustices?
The Windrush scandal, unlike other major UK injustices, was never subjected to a statutory public inquiry. It was addressed through an independent review with limited scope and no legal force behind its recommendations.
Windrush Day 2025, observed this Sunday, marks the 77th anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival in Britain. The ship carried West Indian ex-servicemen and women who became central to the nation’s post-war recovery.
A moment of silence will mark Windrush Day 2025, paying tribute to lost pioneers. Among them are two original passengers from the Empire Windrush, part of a generation now fading.
Key facts about the Windursh scandal
- Windrush Scandal:
Caribbean-born UK residents were wrongly detained and deported due to unfair rules. - Compensation:
By July 2024, 8,800 applied. Only 2,600 were paid, totalling £94m. - Eligibility:
15,000 may qualify, but many got nothing. Only 1,518 were paid by 2023. - Deportations:
83 people were wrongly removed from the UK. - Delays:
23 died before getting any money. Many are still waiting.