Westminster live: Theresa May blames Labour for decision to destroy Windrush landing cards

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Theresa May says the decision to destroy Windrush landing cards was taken in 2009 under Labour

Theresa May has claimed the decision to destroy the landing cards of Windrush-generation was taken by a Labour government.

Responding to Jeremy Corbyn during a heated Prime Minister’s Questions exchange, the Prime Minister made her remarks amid mounting pressure on the government over its treatment of those who immigrated to Britain from the Caribbean in the mid-twentieth century.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Corbyn said: “Yesterday we learned in 2010 the Home Office destroyed the landing cards for a generation of Commonwealth citizens, so have told people 'we can't find you in our system'.

“Did the Prime Minister, the then-Home Secretary, sign off that decision?”

But Ms May replied: “No, the decision to destroy the landing cards was taken in 2009 under a Labour government.”

Ms May and Amber Rudd, the home secretary, have already apologised for the scandal, but Diane Abbott, Labour's shadow home secretary, this morning called for Ms Rudd to resign.

Key Points

• May claims decision to destroy landing cards of Windrush generation immigrants was taken by Labour government 
• Diane Abbott calls for Amber Rudd to resign over Windrush fiasco
• Parliamentary watchdog launches inquiry into Jeremy Hunt
• Theresa May meets Indian prime minister Narendra Modi

[18 April 2018 12:01 · Kristin Hugo]

Prime Minister's Questions is coming up shortly - stayed tuned...

[18 April 2018 12:05 · Laura Kuenssberg]

Tory MP asks helpful q to start with about Windrush to allow PM to get her argument in first - will she apologise ?

[18 April 2018 12:07 · Kristin Hugo]

Theresa May kicks off Prime Minister's Questions by apologising again for the Windrush fiasco.

She says Windrush immigrants "have made a massive contribution - these people are British, they are part of us". Apologising to those who have been affected by the scandal, she adds: "I want to be absolutely clear that we have no intention of asking anyone to leave who has the right to remain."

[18 April 2018 12:09 · Kristin Hugo]

Jeremy Corbyn asks the prime minister about Albert Thompson, who was denied NHS treatment because he was unable to prove his right to live in the UK. The Labour leader had raised the issue at PMQs last month.

May says the government has looked at the case and Mr Thompson "will be receiving the treatment he needs".

[18 April 2018 12:10 · Kristin Hugo]

That was unexpected...Corbyn asks May if she was responsible for the Home Office destroying the landing cards of Windrush immigrants in October 2010. They were shredded when she was Home Secretary.

May says no - the decision was taken in 2009, under the Labour government. Corbyn taken aback by that.

[18 April 2018 12:20 · Kristin Hugo]

Corbyn now quotes Amber Rudd, who said earlier in the week that the Home Office has been guilty of getting bogged down in policy and "losing sight of the individual". May praises Ms Rudd's response to the Windrush fiasco.

Corbyn says it is unbelievable that the Home Office does not know how many Windrush immigrants have been deported. May dodges the question, saying no one who has a right to remain will be deported. 

Wrapping up, the Labour leader says:

"This is a shameful episode and the responsibility for it lies firmly at the prime minister's door. 

Her pandering to bogus immigration targets let to a hostile environment for people contributing to our country. It led to British citizens being denied NHS treatment, losing their jobs, homes and pensions, being thrown into detention centres like prisoners and even deported.

The Windrush generation came to our country after the war to rebuild our country that had been so devastated by war. Isn't the truth that under her, the Home Office became heartless and hopeless, and she now leads a government that is callous and incompetent?"

[18 April 2018 12:20 · Kristin Hugo]

[18 April 2018 12:22 · Kristin Hugo]

Theresa May lands the final blow, telling Jeremy Corbyn she will not take lessons on callousness "from a man who allows antisemitism to run rife in his party".

She praises the moving speeches made by Luciana Berger, Margaret Hodge and other Labour MPs in yesterday's parliamentary debate on antisemitism.

[18 April 2018 12:24 · Kristin Hugo]

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asks the PM if she agrees with Esther McVey, the work and pensions secretary, who said earlier this week that forcing rape survivors to talk about their ordeal in order to access benefits would help them get "double support".

May again evades the question, saying the issue is "incredibly sensitive" and she "recognises the sensititives that are involved for the mothers involves".

[18 April 2018 12:29 · Kristin Hugo]

May is asked about the case of Alfie Dingley, a young child with a severe form of epilepsy. His family are trying to get the government to grant a license for him to use medicinal cannabis, which has been shown to improve his condition.

The PM met Alfie and his family at Downing Street recently. She said ministers are "exploring a range of options to find a solution for Alfie".

She will ensure the Home Office looks at the application "speedily", she adds.