David Lammy MP reveals racist abuse after speaking out on Windrush scandal: 'Be grateful we have taken you in as a black man'

Letter criticises British-born Labour MP’s speeches in defence of immigrants

David Lammy has revealed examples of the racist abuse he has suffered after speaking out in defence of Windrush immigrants.

The British-born Labour MP, who helped shed light on the growing problems faced by people from the Caribbean who have lived in the UK for decades, was sent a letter telling him to “go back to wherever you originally came from” and claiming he should “be grateful that we have taken you in as a black man”.

Mr Lammy, whose parents came to the UK from Guyana, has previously used social media to highlight racist abuse he has received.

In the latest example, he tweeted a photo of a letter sent to his office accusing him of not realising “how lucky you have been and how well treated”.

“For God’s sake man stop your vile and obscene speeches knocking this country down,” it said.

“Be grateful that we have taken you in as a black man and given you a life here, as we have done for all those black people who came to live here.

“Be grateful man for the country that gave you a life, and stop knocking it. Otherwise, go back to your country of your forbears and let’s be rid of you.”

The letter continued: “If you cannot say good about us, then go back, it is as simple as that.

“Your recent speeches have been vile and so unforgiving to a country that has given all that you are, but believe me, we can very well do without you.”

Saying Mr Lammy should “be grateful or go back to wherever you originally came from”, the sender added: “You are like a little child and do not realise how lucky you have been and how well treated, by the country you so easily knock.”

The letter was signed with what is believed to be a fake name and listed a fake address in Newcastle.

In response, the Tottenham MP wrote on Twitter: “I was born in the Whittington Hospital [in north London] the son of Windrush migrants. And I will speak for them.

“Let me be clear: following the 1948 Nationality Act my parents and the Windrush generation were invited here as British citizens. Learn your history. Citizens have been retrospectively renamed as ‘immigrants’ as a result of legislation and policy pandering to far-right rhetoric.”

The former minister is understood to have received dozens of racist letters in recent months but this appears to be the first linked specifically to the Windrush scandal. It was dated 16 April – the day he asked an Urgent Question on the issue in the House of Commons and claimed the government had been “inhumane and cruel” in its treatment of migrants.

Mr Lammy has called for Amber Rudd, the home secretary, to resign over the issue and accused Theresa May of “crocodile tears” after she apologised for the difficulties Windrush immigrants have faced.

He said: “The apologies made by the Prime Minister are merely crocodile tears given that her department was fully aware of the human cost that these policies would have.

“It is extraordinary that the Home Office ignored yet more warnings about the impact that their pernicious policies would have.”

The Windrush row erupted after a government clampdown on illegal immigrants forced people who have lived in the UK for decades to produce documents to prove their right to stay.

The difficulty in accessing documents, some of which were previously destroyed by the government, led to some of the Windrush generation being unable to prove their residency rights and therefore lose healthcare, jobs, pensions and, in some cases, be threatened with deportation.

It comes as The Independent revealed the Home Office agencies at the heart of the Windrush fiasco are rife with discrimination and harassment, according to their own employees.