Windrush communities will be given an independent voice within
government to ensure the lessons of the Home Office Windrush
scandal are driven forward, and that justice is finally delivered
for victims as an advertisement inviting applications to become
the Windrush Commissioner has been launched today.
Having set out a fundamental reset of the government's response
to the scandal, the Home Secretary is committed to working more
closely with communities affected by previous scandals as part of
the Plan for Change. Delivering on the government's manifesto
promise she intends to appoint the first ever Windrush
Commissioner by the summer, following a rigorous recruitment
process to select a candidate capable of driving forward change
and holding government to account on its Windrush commitments.
The Commissioner will be an independent advocate for all those
affected by the scandal, which saw thousands suffer through no
fault of their own because of their inability to prove their
right to live in the UK, and will engage with victims,
communities and stakeholder organisations, as well as providing
advice direct to Ministers, to lead the change the Home Secretary
is committed to delivering.
The successful candidate will advise on the Home Office's
delivery of the compensation and status schemes and the
implementation of the department's response to the Windrush
Lessons Learned Review, as well as acting as a trusted voice for
families and communities, driving improvements and promoting
lasting change.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, MP said:
“The appointment of a Windrush Commissioner will mark a vital
step in resetting the government's response to the Home Office
Windrush scandal and delivering the change that the victims of
this scandal want and deserve to see.
“This independent advocate will ensure the voices of victims and
communities are heard and acted on throughout government. By
engaging with communities, driving improvements, and holding
government to account, the Commissioner will help ensure that
lasting change is delivered and the lessons of the past are truly
learned.
“The Home Secretary and I look forward to working side by side
with the successful candidate in this crucial work to ensure
that such an injustice can never happen again, and that dignity
is restored to those who have suffered.”
Jeremy Crook OBE, Chief Executive of Action for Race
Equality, stated:
“We want the Windrush Commissioner to have the power and
resources to engage with Windrush victims and community advocacy
organisations, hold the government to account and drive positive
change. Action for Race Equality looks forward to working with
the new Windrush Commissioner.”
Upon appointment, the Commissioner will work alongside the
Windrush Unit, which was re-established by the Home Secretary, to
oversee the department's response to the scandal and embed
permanent cultural change.
This comes after the Home Secretary set out, in October, the
first steps the government is taking to fundamentally reset how
the government plans to right the wrongs of the Home Office
Windrush scandal. As well as re-establishing the Windrush Unit,
she committed to better supporting victims to apply for
compensation with £1.5 million in grant funding to increase
advocacy support.
This government is determined to hear first-hand from the
Windrush generation, their families and wider Commonwealth
communities to ensure that their experiences are listened to and
learned from.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
