Leaders pay tribute to the enormous contribution of the Windrush Generation

Prime Minister and Britain’s political leaders offer their thoughts on this landmark anniversary

75 years on, we pay tribute to the enormous contribution of those who arrived on the Empire Windrush in 1948 and the ways in which they have enriched communities across the UK ever since

75 years on, we pay tribute to the enormous contribution of those who arrived on the Empire Windrush in 1948 and the ways in which they have enriched communities across the UK ever since.

From saving lives in our magnificent NHS and founding and leading thriving businesses, to representing the UK on the world stage as professional athletes, the Windrush Generation and their descendants have been at the heart of the UK’s social, cultural, and historical fabric

From saving lives in our magnificent NHS and founding and leading thriving businesses, to representing the UK on the world stage as professional athletes, the Windrush Generation and their descendants have been at the heart of the UK’s social, cultural, and historical fabric.

It is an honour to be your Prime Minister and offer my message for this souvenir issue of The Voice on this historic occasion

It is an honour to be your Prime Minister and offer my message for this souvenir issue of The Voice on this historic occasion.

22 June 2023

Keir Starmer: Time to thank Windrush Generation for rebuilding Britain

SEVENTY-FIVE years ago

HMT Empire Windrush brought 500 passengers from the Caribbean to Britain, beginning a new chapter in our history.

They embodied the best of Britain: determination, spirit, public service, and graft.

As we look back on 75 years, we should be proud of the way that generation became integral parts of the society we live in today.

From the NHS, to education, to business, those passengers and their families have given so much to Britain. Their contribution runs deep. This anniversary is an important opportunity to recognise it.

Arriving in a decimated post-war Britain, they joined the mission to rebuild our country. Today, everywhere you look, their legacy is clear.

22 June 2023

Take our health service. The newly created NHS could not meet the health needs of the population without the Caribbean and South Asian nurses. We owe the continuation of our much-loved NHS to the dedication and hard work of the doctors, nurses, matrons and assistants who came after them.

Legacy

Take public transport. Windrush hands drove our buses and trains, starting a legacy that would last a lifetime.

Take our infrastructure. Windrush arrivals worked on the production of desperately needed raw materials such as iron, steel and coal, so we could live and work safely in the buildings we have today. Take sport. From boxers to footballers, the legacy of those arriving in Tilbury in 1948 is rich. England’s first black footballer Viv Anderson’s parents arrived during Windrush.

I remember watching Viv play as a youngster.

I watched him cement his place in an Arsenal team that brought us fans silverware, but it wasn’t until later that I learned the political significance of Viv and others’ success.

The first Windrush Generation contributed so much to British society, but instead of being thanked, they have been badly mistreated. Alongside the government’s repeated failure to treat them and their families with respect and dignity, we take their contributions for granted.

That’s why celebrating their success is important on the 75th anniversary.

It’s why the tireless work by campaigners like Patrick Vernon is so vital.

So as we reflect on 75 years since HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, we must thank those who keep the stories of the Windrush Generation alive. Their testimonies are what humanises a story of finding not only opportunity in Britain but sadly discrimination, too.

We can all use this anniversary to not only thank those who arrived in 1948, but to learn from them. To encourage all corners of our society to be openminded, to embrace different new cultures, and to harness the power of new stories. Only through conversation and engagement can we truly understand the history and importance of race and migration to Britain across the decades.

Sir Keir Starmer is leader of the Labour Party