Windrush victims fear Afghan distraction

Windrush campaigners are even more concerned about compensation claimants being delayed for longer amid the Afghanistan crisis.

Windrush survivors are the Caribbean people who arrived in the United Kingdom decades ago, usually as children and teenagers, worked and lived there throughout but because they hadn’t got their British passports were treated badly by the Conservative government. They could not work, access health care or benefits and some were deported.

Britain’s pledge to aid thousands of Afghans fleeing persecution is generally accepted as fair, but hundreds affected by the Windrush scandal have yet to receive pay-outs as delays mount.

Only 412 of the 2,367 claims submitted had received a final award despite the process being open for two years, according to a report by the Public Accounts Committee published in July.

Last month, attendees at the monthly Windrush National Organisation meeting were surprised when told that the de-facto head of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, Tom Greig, had moved onto the Afghan Resettlement Programme while someone temporarily covers his post.

Windrush victims – many in their 70s and 80s - feel the Home Office is deliberately delaying making compensation payments hoping they will either die or lose the energy to seek compensation. At least 21 have died so far.