Home Office condemned over decision to exclude scores of Windrush victims from compensation scheme launch

‘I was hoping this would help bring me some closure ... But I feel like Sajid Javid is trying to stay in his ivory tower and dictate to people what’s going on,’ says one Windrush victim

The Home Office has been accused of “failing to learn from the mistakes of Windrush” after planning to launch a long-awaited scheme to compensate those affected by the scandal behind closed doors.

Scores of Windrush victims were left off the invitation list for the event on Wednesday night, as prominent immigration lawyers and press were also barred.

News of the event caused an angry backlash – after which the department said home secretary Sajid Javid would make a statement about compensation in the Commons on Wednesday.

Jacqueline McKenzie, an immigration lawyer who has worked with many Windrush victims, said she was asked by the Home Office to nominate people who had been affected by the scandal to be invited – but that only three of the six she suggested had been asked.

One of those who did not get an invitation, Willow Sims, who came to the UK aged four but found herself in debt and facing deportation after losing her right to work last year, accused Mr Javid of being a “coward”.

Willow Sims (left) said she felt let down by Sajid Javid (Willow Sims)

“I was hoping this would help bring me some closure. At the moment, I’m trying to put all this behind me,” she said. “I was hoping that this would be one of the things that would make me say ‘I’ve stood there, I’ve seen the people, they’ve heard my case, that part is done now’.

“But I feel like Sajid Javid has so many problems on his plate, so he’s trying to stay in his ivory tower, dictate to people what’s going on, and then not be held accountable for it. He’s a coward too afraid to come out and listen to the problems. I feel let down.”

Ms McKenzie, who was also not invited, said: “This is a shocking way to treat people who in the main have been patient and respectful of the Home Office despite the appalling suffering they have endured, and despite the fact that it has taken over a year for the redress scheme to be launched.

“I think what all of this demonstrates to me is that even a year after the scandal, the Home Office is failing to learn from its mistakes or just simply does not care about a group of very vulnerable people who they deem expendable.”

Patrick Vernon, Windrush campaigner and ex-Labour councillor, who did receive an invitation to the event, said it was “worrying” it appeared to be so “secretive”.

“Everyone knows about the scandal, internationally. Everyone is waiting for the details of the compensation scheme, particularly those who have been affected,” he said.

“And if we’re taking about government transparency, then why is this a secret? Why are they hiding this? What are they embarrassed about?

“We have to pay out the compensation. That goes without saying. Some people might object to that, but most people across the country will agree that these people deserve compensation for the loss they’ve suffered.”

Jamie Beagent, a human rights lawyer at Leigh Day currently investigating potential legal action against the government on behalf of over 30 victims of the Windrush scandal, said he was surprised to have learned about the event on Twitter.

“We are contacting all those Windrush victims who we are in contact with, those who we have spoken to have also not heard anything from the government or its agencies in relation to this scheme. This private meeting is as much a surprise to them as it is to us,” he added. “The government does not seem to have learnt anything from the poor handling of this scandal.”

Mr Javid pledged in July last year to introduce a compensation scheme to reimburse members of the Windrush generation for the losses they have suffered. But when pressed months later, the Home Office has repeatedly said it is unable to confirm when it will be in operation.

The Sun reported last week, citing a “Whitehall insider”, that the government was allocating “about £100m” to the scheme “as part of a bigger package of money”, after Mr Javid had reportedly warned the scheme was “unaffordable without the extra money”.

It comes after MPs warned last month that victims of the Windrush scandal were still homeless and being betrayed by the Home Office almost a year on, and accused ministers of a “shameful failure” to provide the help promised to those affected.

Many remained “homeless or having to rely on family members”, while a promised compensation scheme has yet to start and an “urgent” hardship fund took eight months to set up, the report said.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also accused the home secretary of “failing” to investigate cases from Commonwealth countries outside the Caribbean – while his officials admitted they may still be using incorrect data.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Righting the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation remains one of the home secretary's top priorities and he is committed to ensuring it never happens again. That is why we have kept Parliament fully updated at every step of the way and have published regular information about the work of the Windrush Taskforce.

“Our compensation scheme - which will play a vital role in righting the wrongs - has been subject to a full public consultation with independent oversight and designed in conjunction with those affected.

“Tomorrow we will be publishing full details of the scheme in Parliament.”