UK TREND : U-turn on Windrush promises sparks outrage on Twitter

27 January 2023

After the home secretary announced that the government was abandoning three crucial promises made in the wake of the scandal, the head of the Windrush inquiry expressed disappointment.

Ms. Braverman has acknowledged she won’t be implementing all the recommendations. Such as, that she will not hold events for the Windrush community’s reconciliation or expand the authority of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI). It has been referred to as “yet another betrayal”

Following the official announcement by Parliament, the government will no longer be implementing three of the Windrush recommendations that the previous home secretary had previously approved. Twitter has been used by people to express their outrage at the government’s recent actions, particularly at Suella Braverman. Several disapproving members of parliament have been using the trending hashtags #Windrush and #Suella Braverman to express their anger over this decision on Twitter.

What is Windrush scandal?

The Windrush scandal was a British political scandal that began in 2018 concerning people who were wrongly detained, denied legal rights, threatened with deportation, and in at least 83 cases wrongly deported from the UK by the Home Office. Many of those affected had been born British subjects and had arrived in the UK before 1973, particularly from Caribbean countries, as members of the “Windrush generation” (so named after the Empire Windrush, the ship that brought one of the first groups of West Indian migrants to the UK in 1948).

Tory Home Secretary's U-turn on #Windrush reforms branded 'slap in the face.'
This @Conservatives @ukhomeoffice Govt must be the most cruel and inept ever! https://t.co/UH8S4YcbDl

— Lance Dyer 〓〓 (@Lance63) January 26, 2023

Member of parliament for the Labour Party David Lammy, was amongst politicians who were against the decision . He posted on twitter “ that it is a scandal that Suella Braverman has trampled on the hopes of the Windrush victims for justice”.

It is a scandal that Suella Braverman has trampled on the hopes of the Windrush victims for justice.

Dropping the recommendations successive Prime Ministers and Home Secretaries have promised them – after they were so badly wronged.

My point of order in the House 👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/7rEzsRHZFj

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 26, 2023

Labour Member of Parliament Yvette Cooper expressed her disappointment on twitter and shared that the “Windrush scandal denied basic rights to British citizens . Minsters promised to right those wrongs”. However, what occurred today with “ Braverman dropping the pledges and admitting that less than half of compensation claims have been paid”. (https://norvado.com) Thus, “ it is disgraceful letting down the Windrush generation again”.

Windrush scandal denied basic rights to British citizens. Ministers promised to right those wrongs.

Yet today Suella Braverman has dropped pledges & admitted less than half of compensation claims paid. Disgraceful letting down Windrush generation againhttps://t.co/GjTZnC1VBm

— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) January 26, 2023

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted “ this is an absolute disgrace. Windrush families deserve justice. Instead, they have been met with empty promises”.

An absolute disgrace. Windrush families deserve justice. Instead, they have been met with empty promises.

Their treatment by the Government has been nothing short of a national scandal, and the hostile environment shows no sign of ending. https://t.co/6htcatrs5E

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 26, 2023

Members of the British public have clearly stated that “ Suella Braverman is Disgusting” for “breaking promises made to the Windrush victims”. This only demonstrates that “ these awful injustices and scandals are now even more likely to happen again”.

Suella Braverman is a real piece of work. Breaking promises made to the Windrush victims. These awful injustices and scandals are now even more likely to happen again.

— Aaron Kiely (@Aaron_Kiely) January 26, 2023

Disgusting that @SuellaBraverman has dumped many of the recommendations of the report on the Windrush Scandal. This government becomes nastier with every passing hour!

— Tom Ferguson (@tomferg80) January 26, 2023

Individuals also questioned how can “ not implementing all the Windrush recommendations promised by Johnsons government be an example of integrity, accountability and professionalism”.

#RishiSunak How is not implementing all the Windrush recommendations promised by Johnson’s government an example of integrity, accountability and professionalism in your government? It just makes no sense to break this promise unless it has Rwanda implications?

— Charles Mossman 🇮🇪🇪🇺 #GTTO #FBC (@charles_mossman) January 26, 2023

Journalist Richard Sudan shared “ this is further evidence of the low regard with which they hold not just those affected by the Windrush scandal, but the wider Windrush generation”.

"This is further evidence of the low regard with which they hold not just those affected by the Windrush scandal, but the wider Windrush generation,”- @JacquiMckenzie6

Windrush inquiry head disappointed as Braverman drops ‘crucial’ measures https://t.co/8US7oMiMfT

— Richard Sudan (@richardsudan) January 26, 2023

Twitter user Sarah Palmer tweeted this “ Windrush scandal is dreadful and only gives the impression that Suella Braverman is racist”. As while the government should be compensating the Windrush families for what they experienced, “the home office continues to treat Windrush migrants as second-rate citizens”.

"This is further evidence of the low regard with which they hold not just those affected by the Windrush scandal, but the wider Windrush generation,”- @JacquiMckenzie6

Windrush inquiry head disappointed as Braverman drops ‘crucial’ measures https://t.co/8US7oMiMfT

— Richard Sudan (@richardsudan) January 26, 2023

The windrush scandal is dreadful. I’m getting the impression suella braverman is a racist. Those families should be compensated for what they were put through. The home office continues to treat windrush migrants as second rate citizens #racism #Windrush #bbcnews #SuellaBraverman

— Sarah Jane Palmer (@nurse_palmer) January 26, 2023

The public agreed that “ Suella Braverman should hang her head in shame over this”.

You should hang your head in shame ⁦@SuellaBraverman⁩, so many of the Windrush generation worked hard to rebuild Britain after the war – utterly, utterly disgraceful https://t.co/XXGTdysy2K

— Roz Gladden (@cllrrozthepool) January 26, 2023