More than 50 Windrush victims die while waiting for compensation over Home Office failings, government admits

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At least 53 folks have died while waiting to be compensated over the Windrush scandal, the government has admitted.

The Windrush compensation scheme was arrange in 2019 after it emerged that the Home Office had wrongfully denied British residents, principally from the Caribbean, entry to work, healthcare and advantages. Some have been threatened with deportation regardless of having the precise to dwell within the UK.

The government promised to proper the wrongs of what had occurred however the scheme has been repeatedly criticised for being too gradual to compensate victims. As the fifth anniversary approaches, official figures present dozens – together with ten prior to now six months – have died while awaiting a payout.

It comes after Rishi Sunak introduced a brand new compensation plan for postmasters caught up within the Horizon IT scandal, which noticed lots of of postmasters prosecuted after defective software program wrongly made it appear to be cash was lacking from their branches. Campaigners have now referred to as upon the government to make sure justice for these caught up within the Windrush and Infected Blood scandals.

Responding to a query on the difficulty from the Scottish National Party within the Commons this week, Tom Pursglove, minister for authorized migration, mentioned: “In the unfortunate circumstances where a claimant has passed away after submitting a compensation claim, the team continues to work closely with the appointed representative to ensure the compensation payment is made as quickly as possible to the family member.

“Our priority is to ensure people receive the maximum compensation as quickly as possible,” the minister added.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour’s MP for Streatham, advised The Independent: “This cruel government has proven yet again why the architects of a scandal cannot be trusted to put it right.

“They have stood by whilst even more Windrush victims have died without receiving a penny of justice; it has been clear from its inception that the scheme should have been independent of the Home Office.

“In this government’s hands, the Windrush Compensation scheme is a scandal in itself.”

According to knowledge revealed by the Home Office earlier this month, just a little extra than £75 million had been paid out by the top of November.

Of the claims within the system at that time, 13 per cent had been waiting not less than 12 months to be processed.

A brand new marketing campaign backed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence and singer Annie Lennox has referred to as for the “woeful” payout scheme to maneuver sooner.

The Justice4Windrush marketing campaign is demanding “full and swift compensation” for victims of the scandal. Other high-profile supporters embrace actor Hannah Waddingham, tv presenter Jay Blades and historian Kayne Kawasaki.

Mr Kawasaski described the dying toll as a “tragedy”.

“Each time another claimant dies without redress, Black Britons feel the ripple effect,” he advised The Independent. When Britain wanted assist, the Windrush era answered the decision. Windrush claimants now need assistance for the wrongs they’ve skilled to be put proper.

“How they’ve been treated by this government is unacceptable.”

The group have additionally referred to as for the reinstatement of the staff devoted to coping with the fallout from the scandal, which was wound up final yr.

The Home Office mentioned in September that the transformation programme for change within the wake of the scandal would now not be managed via a devoted staff however quite “embedded into the fabric of our everyday operations and activities”. Meanwhile, the Windrush Working Group met for the ultimate time, having been arrange in June 2020 to convey neighborhood leaders along with senior representatives from government departments.

Last June marked the seventy fifth anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush within the UK, commemorating the ship’s arrival in 1948, bringing folks from the Caribbean who answered Britain’s name to assist fill post-war labour shortages.

A Home Office spokesperson mentioned: “The government remains absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal and making sure those affected receive the compensation they rightly deserve.

“We have paid more than £75 million in compensation and we continue to make improvements so people receive the maximum award as quickly as possible, whilst providing extensive support to help people access and apply to the compensation scheme.

“The scheme will remain open as long as it is needed, so no-one is prevented from making a claim. We are continuing to reach out to, and engage with, communities across the UK to encourage more people to come forward, ensuring they have correct information on whether they may be eligible and necessary guidance to support their application.”