Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.
Ambrey: Cameroon-flagged tanker issues distress call following explosion abroad, approximately 60NM south of Yemen's Ahwar.
Araghchi: Iran adopted a constructive approach in its engagement to ensure the European Union and the E3 fully honored their commitments and lifted all sanctions.
Araghchi: After a year of Iran’s full compliance with the agreement, it began implementing gradual, proportionate, and reversible compensatory steps in accordance with its recognized rights under the deal.
Araghchi: Iran demonstrated the utmost restraint in the face of repeated and fundamental violations and made extensive efforts to restore balance and preserve the agreement.
In his letter, Araghchi stated: The E3 failed to fulfill their obligations and instead imposed additional illegal sanctions on Iranian individuals and institutions.
Araghchi: These coercive measures constituted a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter, causing severe disruption in the implementation of the agreement.
Araghchi: Washington initially refrained from fulfilling its commitments, then withdrew from the agreement, reimposed its illegal and unilateral sanctions, and even expanded them.
Araghchi: UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has expired and fully ceased to be in effect as of today, in accordance with its explicit provisions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Reimposing sanctions on Iran is illegal

‘Windrush’ victims left failed, uncompensated in UK plan: HRW

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Apr 2023 08:45
3 Min Read

A recent report by a leading human rights organization reveals that those affected by the "Windrush" scandal continue to receive insufficient compensation offers and long waits.

  • x
  • Thomas Tobierre, 69, who applied to the Home Office’s Windrush Compensation Scheme as a primary applicant, says he realized that the scheme was set up to deny claimants their right to an effective remedy. (2023 Ellie Kealey for Human Rights Watch)
    Thomas Tobierre, 69, applied to the Home Office’s Windrush Compensation Scheme as a primary applicant in 2023 (HRW)

More than five years after the unlawful deportation and detention of Britons of Caribbean ancestry was made public, a rights group revealed that the British government's scheme to compensate victims of the "Windrush" scandal is failing.

Thousands of immigrants who came to the UK between 1948 and the early 1970s had to fulfill unapplicable government standards to prove their right to be in Britain even though they had been living and working there for decades.

Due to their inability to provide documentation, many people lost their houses, jobs, health insurance, pensions, and benefits. Others were forced to return to the Caribbean.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May apologized to Caribbean leaders on April 17, 2018, and in 2019, a compensation scheme was prepared.

Read next: Celebrating 70 years of British massacres!

Human Rights Watch, however, stated that the program established to support victims was "failing and violating their right to an effective remedy for human rights abuses they suffered at the hands of the Home Office (interior ministry)."

"Five years after the Windrush scandal came to light, the Home Office compensation scheme is compounding its injustice by denying claimants their right to redress for the life-altering losses and negative effects it has had on their lives for years," added Almaz Teffera, an HRW researcher on racism in Europe.

"The UK government should hand over the compensation scheme to an independent body that guarantees each claimant a fair and independent hearing," Teffera said.

Known as the "Windrush" generation -- after the Empire Windrush, one of the ships that brought them to the UK from the West Indies -- they were invited to work in Britain due to shortages of key workers in the aftermath of World War II.

Related News

'Windrush' scandal: Chronically-ill people kicked out of UK hospitals

They were granted indefinite leave to remain, but many who did not apply for passports found themselves targeted by immigration laws designed to create a "hostile environment" for illegal immigrants.

After the right-wing Conservative Party regained office in 2010 when May served as Interior Minister, the hardline policy was pioneered.

Subsequently, many found themselves accused of being illegal immigrants.

It's not the first time the compensation scheme has been denounced.

In 2021, British MPs criticized what they said were "truly shocking" delays in compensation.

A cross-party home affairs committee reported that 23 claimants had passed away without getting any compensation and suggested that the Home Office be relieved of its responsibility for managing the claims.

The MPs said claimants faced a "daunting" application process and "unreasonable requests for evidence" and were "left in limbo in the midst of inordinate delays".

Only 12.8 percent of the estimated 11,500 qualified claimants had received compensation as of January, as per HRW.

It added that the scheme should be independent and provide legal aid to claimants to help them navigate the "complex application process."

Earlier this year, a UN group on people of African descent acknowledged that the "Windrush" generation had endured "irreparable harm" and that redress was "imperative".

Read next: Almost one in six people in the UK experience racial abuse: Survey

  • Windrush scandal
  • Rishi Sunak
  • UK
  • compensation

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Residents remove debris from a house damaged by Wednesday's two drone strikes, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Afghanistan-Pakistan negotiations to begin in Doha: Exclusive

Palestine Action wins court fight to challenge UK terror ban
Politics

Palestine Action wins court fight to challenge UK 'terror' ban

John Bolton surrenders after classified documents indictment
Politics

John Bolton turns himself in after classified documents indictment

GSF, GMTG slams EU over complicity in Gaza genocide
Politics

GSF, GMTG slam EU over complicity in crimes against Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS