Windrush75

Ed Davey: They played a vital role shaping our multicultural society

AS A Liberal Democrat I am proud of the outstanding economic, social, and cultural contribution the Windrush Generation have made to the United Kingdom.

On this 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush – which brought over dedicated Caribbean people who wanted to help rebuild Britain - we should celebrate this contribution.

The Windrush Generation has played a vital role in shaping the UK into the diverse and multicultural society that it is today.

Their hard work and determination helped to rebuild Britain in our time of need, and they have enriched our culture with their music, art and cuisine.

Arriving the same year the NHS was founded, many of the Windrush passengers were instrumental in building the NHS – one of our country’s proudest achievements.

We must acknowledge and celebrate their contributions and recognise their important place in the history of this country. More than that, they should be working actively to promote harmony and unity in respect of the Windrush Generation’s legacy.

Last year, it was touching to watch the unveiling of the new National Windrush monument at Waterloo Station – a celebration of the Windrush Generation’s legacy, spearheaded by our very own Baroness Floella Benjamin.

The brave immigrants of the Windrush Generation created new lives for themselves and their families, and continue to be an integral part of the diverse Black British community we see today.

The appalling Windrush

Scandal revealed that people who have every right to live in the UK had been wrongly denied access to NHS treatment, housing and other services simply because they didn’t have the right documents to prove it. Innocent people were made homeless, detained and even deported.

The Conservative Government should be working tirelessly to right the wrongs of this country’s treatment of people who have given so much to us.

The recommendations which came out of the Lessons Learned Review in the wake of the Windrush Scandal are vital to prevent the same mistakes again.

Yet we are hearing that Suella Braverman is considering scrapping these recommendations, even after the Home Office’s complete mismanagement of the financial compensation programme. This scandal is nowhere near over, with people even passing away before they can receive their compensation.

This anniversary is both a celebration and a sobering reminder that here in the UK, far too many people’s lives are still blighted by discrimination, inequality and injustice.

Liberal Democrats will keep fighting for the rights of those impacted by the Windrush Scandal - and to scrap the cruel, ineffective Hostile Environment policies that caused the scandal in the first place.

We will keep standing up to bigotry, hate and racial injustice that is far too commonplace in our country. And we will keep working to combat racism wherever we find it.

Sir Edward Davey is leader of the Liberal Democrats

THIS YEAR marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush.

They travelled here full of hopes, dreams and apprehension in answer to a call to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War. Little did anyone know the impact that the people aboard would come to have in shaping our city and country.

The Windrush Generation and their descendants have influenced every aspect of our society. From those working for the NHS and Transport for London, to politicians, activists and the creatives who have shaped our culture - we owe them all an enormous debt of gratitude.

Last year, I was honoured to be at Waterloo station, alongside some of Britain’s best-loved figures, to witness the unveiling the National Windrush Monument. It is fitting that there is a national monument in such a prominent location paying tribute to this inspiring generation. It is essential that new generations understand the significance of Windrush. That’s why I was proud to host a special public event at City Hall to bring the story of ‘Arrival’ to life using talks, music, film screenings and art installations.

We cannot adequately commemorate Windrush without reflecting on the disgraceful treatment members of that generation have endured.

The Government’s misguided hostile environment policies have caused untold pain and the subsequent delay in delivering compensation has not only compounded the trauma that’s been inflicted, but shamed our nation.

Unfortunately, there remains a chronic lack of funding available to Black-led organisations supporting the Windrush Generation.

That’s why I’m proud that City Hall has contributed to the Windrush Justice programme to help address this disparity.

I’ve also supported the Windrush Justice Fund, launched by Patrick Vernon and delivered by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, to help widen access to free legal advice on often complex immigration and asylum processes.

The Windrush Generation has played a pivotal role in helping to make our city the greatest in the world, and I will continue to do all I can to honour their legacy and ensure they receive justice.

For it is only by ensuring their contribution is recognised that we can build a fairer, more equal and more prosperous city for everyone.

WHEN THE Empire Windrush cruised into Tilbury Docks in 1948, it opened a new chapter of Black British History - which stretches back through the centuries featuring heroes such as musician John Blanke, who played for King Henry VII, and Mary Seacole, who saved soldiers in the Crimean War and pioneered nursing practices.

Sometimes the Windrush chapter is a tough read, with the cruel signage of “No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs” etched into its pages and vivid illustrations of blatant racism and constant tribulation.

But, mostly, it is a story of bravery, remarkable resilience, fierce determination, and impressive ingenuity.

The people who came from the Caribbean in that era were great adventurers who endured bittersweet goodbyes on sunkissed islands and left the warm embrace of mothers, fathers, children and tight-knit communities to explore new lands.

The Second World War had ended, and the prospect of a new era of peace and prosperity was firmly in sight. They arrived on British shores with their life savings, their skills, their dreams and their spirit of innovation, ready to build a better world.

They woke up every day with Maya Angelou’s mantra, “still I rise”. Remarkably, though their sacrifice was often not respected, and they suffered unimaginable abuse and discrimination, they thrived.

They saved, built and bought houses, educated their children, and in their downtime, they partied

Caribbean-style. Adversity seemed to spur them on to make invaluable contributions to their communities as teachers, nurses, doctors, entrepreneurs, lawyers, musicians and politicians. They added an authentic Caribbean flavour to Britain’s cultural melting pot.

That is why the Windrush story is dear to me. It’s much more than the fact that it is my story, that I arrived here with my parents from the island of Dominica in the 1950s and have tasted the pangs of adversity and the sweetness of triumph.

What I treasure most is the vibrant diversity it helped to create and the values it promotes.

These values, which include unconditional love in the face of hate, perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, and tolerance and understanding in the face of racism and xenophobia, defined my journey to becoming the first UK female Attorney General and eventually the first female Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, where those same principles are espoused in our charter.

Therefore, I hope the memory of the Windrush era will continue to be a catalyst for peace, cooperation, equality, tolerance, respect and understanding, and a constant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.