Theresa May announces review into government's handling of Windrush scandal

Prime minister promises probe will have 'full access' to Home Office files as Labour seeks to force release of documents

Theresa May has announced a full review of the government's treatment of Windrush generation immigrations, ahead of an attempt by Labour to force ministers to publish secret documents relating to the fiasco.

The prime minister promised MPs there would be a “full review of lessons learned” following the scandal, which has engulfed the government in recent weeks and forced the resignation of the home secretary, Amber Rudd.

Ms Rudd's successor, Sajid Javid, will announce a “package of measures to bring transparency on the issue”, Ms May said. The review will report back to Parliament before MPs leave for their summer break in July.

The announcement comes ahead of a House of Commons vote, called by Labour, to try to force ministers to release internal government documents relating to the scandal.

The party hopes to use an archaic procedure to compel the government to release the Windrush papers to MPs on the Home Affairs Committee. The same technique was used earlier this year to force ministers to hand over 58 Brexit economic assessments.

As ministers sought to avoid releasing the Windrush files, Ms May said the review would be given “full access to all relevant information in the Home Office, including policy papers and casework decisions”.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, she said: "We all share the ambition to make sure that we do right by members of the Windrush generation, and that's why [Mr Javid] will be announcing a package of measures to bring transparency on the issue, to make sure that the House is informed, to reassure members of this House, but more importantly to reassure those people who have been directly affected."

She added: "Speed is of the essence, and my Right Honourable Friend will be commissioning a full review of lessons learned, independent oversight and external challenge with the intention of reporting back to this House before we rise for the summer.

"The review will have full access to all relevant information in the Home Office, including policy papers and casework decisions."

Labour's attempt to force the release of the documents involves tabling a rarely-used procedure called a "motion for return" that asks the Queen to instruct ministers to hand over the relevant files.

The Conservatives are expected to try to block the attempt by issuing a three-line whip telling their MPs to vote against it.

Responding to the announcement of a full review, a Labour Party spokesperson said: "If the architect of this cruel farce, the prime minister, is ordering her MPs to vote to keep her role in this mess hidden from the public, it exposes the Tories' crocodile tears on the Windrush scandal as a sham.

"We need answers, not further cover ups to save Theresa May from facing up to her involvement in the removal of rights, detentions and possible deportations of British citizens.

"After letting Rudd take the fall for her decisions, how can the public have any trust in the prime minister?"