Wolverhampton MP calls on government to change its ways after Windrush scandal

Wolverhampton South West MP Eleanor Smith was speaking after Home Secretary Sajid Javid called the treatment of some members of the Windrush generation "unacceptable" and a "terrible mistake that should never have happened".

Mr Javid was announcing the details of the Windrush Compensation Scheme in the House of Commons, which will see those affected rightly compensated.

But Ms Smith has called on the government to change its ways.

She told the Express & Star: "When the UK called for help after the Second World War, to rebuild our country, people from all across the Commonwealth heard that call and came. These people had so much pride in being British, and considered their passports made them British.

"They have been humiliated by being told they were not British, they were not worthy, they were not deserving of being here.

"The delays in getting compensation to people who have been unfairly treated by the Government’s hostile environment is nothing short of disgusting. The reluctance to provide hardship payments to people denied benefits, the ability to work, access to the NHS, has been disgraceful. Only nine people have received these so far.

"This is a scandal which should never happened. It has affected people in my constituency, across Wolverhampton and the UK. At least 19 people who were wrongly removed from the UK have died before the Home Office contacted them to apologise.

"I truly hope the Government will now swiftly give redress to everyone affected. But for anything to really change, the Government will have to address its culture and attitude which created the hostile environment in the first place."

The Windrush scandal saw thousands of Commonwealth citizens, who arrived legally in the UK before 1973, threatened with deportation because they were not issued with any documents confirming their status.

Among those was Wolverhampton's Paulette Wilson, who was wrongly detained and threatened with deportation despite living in the UK for 50 years.

Mrs Wilson was released at the 11th hour following the intervention of Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds and Wolverhampton’s Refugee and Migrant Centre. She has since received an apology from the Prime Minister over her treatment.

Mr Javid said: "Nothing we say or do will ever wipe away the hurt, the trauma, the loss that should have never been suffered by the men and women of the Windrush generation, but together we can begin to wrong the rights of Windrush - right the wrongs of Windrush. We can begin to turn the page on this sad chapter in our history.

"Now it's time for us to step up and do what's right by those that we have failed."

Wolverhampton South West MP Eleanor Smith has called on the government to "swiftly give redress to everyone affected".