The Home Office’s treatment of the Windrush and Commonwealth communities saw individuals who have the right to live in this country victimised through no fault of their own because they were unable to prove their right to live in this country and access public services. As a consequence, Windrush became tragically associated with a scandal not of their making. The Home Office is determined to change that, embedding lasting cultural change that makes a difference to all our communities.
There is no doubt that a first step must be ensuring that the victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal receive the compensation they are due quickly and efficiently. Last October, the Home Secretary updated Parliament on the Home Office plans to establish a Windrush Commissioner – a crucial, independent advocate for those affected. The Windrush Commissioner will be a trusted voice for the victims at the highest level, extending the reach of the compensation scheme to all impacted communities, identifying, and raising systemic issues across government to ensure that action is taken. The Commissioner will also assure the Home Office’s delivery of the compensation scheme. The efficiency of this scheme directly impacts on the victims and their family members, many of whom are still traumatised by their experiences.
To ensure that the injustices faced by the victims never happen again, the Windrush Commissioner will advise on the Home Office’s progress as we undertake a review of the implementation of Wendy William’s Windrush Lessons Learned Review (WLLR) in today’s context – holding the Department to account as we learn the lessons of the past to drive improvements. Their challenge will support long-term cultural change as we embed the lessons learned into every aspect of our work across the Home Office and make a difference to all the communities the Home Office works to protect on a daily basis.
I am looking for an outstanding candidate to take on the post of Windrush Commissioner, someone with a proven track record of strategic leadership, a clear vision for driving impactful change, and the ability to engage with a diverse range of individuals, including victims, their families, representatives, and stakeholders from across a range of backgrounds and viewpoints. I expect the Commissioner to embody the core values necessary to succeed in this vital role, demonstrating exceptional judgement, credibility and personal integrity. He or she will have a strong understanding of the issues related to the scandal and its impact on the Windrush and Commonwealth communities, ideally informed by lived experience.