WINDRUSH APOLOGY
Theresa May apologises to Caribbean leaders after Windrush generation ‘treated appallingly’ and threatened with deportation
THERESA May has personally said sorry to Caribbean leaders today over the "appalling" treatment of the Windrush generation who were threatened with deportation.
The Prime Minister has today tried to reassure those who came legally to the UK after World War II who built their lives in this country that they can stay indefinitely.
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She welcomed her Jamaican counterpart Andrew Holness to No10 for talks this morning, where she told him the country was a "key partner" and there are "great opportunities" to enhance their relationship.
A No10 spokesman added: "The Prime Minister said she deeply valued the contribution made by the Windrush generation and all Commonwealth citizens who have made a life in the UK, and that the UK Government would ensure the correct support was in place to give people certainty about their existing right to reside here."
As part of Commonwealth meetings later today No10 had initially turned down the meeting, but quickly u-turned on the decision yesterday.
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It was also claimed today that the Home Office destroyed Windrush immigrants' landing cards in 2010 - which were being kept in a storage facility in Croydon.
In another day of farce for the Home Office, The Guardian reported that a former employee said the files were chucked away when Theresa May was Home Secretary.
Yesterday Amber Rudd said she did not know whether anyone had been made to leave the country over not having the right paperwork - even though the Windrush generation came over legally.
But earlier yesterday Immigration Minister Caroline Noakes has said that she thought some had already been deported in "horrendous" circumstances.
Ms Rudd told MPs that the Windrush generation had been treated "appallingly" and gave a full apology.
Cabinet Minister David Lidington said today he didn't know of anyone who had been wrongly deported.
Speaking to Radio 4 this morning, he said the Home Secretary had taken responsibility for the scandal.
He said: "We do not know of any cases where someone has been deported in this category... the Home Secretary has instructed officials to work through the records just to check that nothing has gone appallingly wrong."
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Those who arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries were dubbed the Windrush generation - named after the first ship MV Empire Windrush.
But many have lost homes, jobs and benefits has they have no proof of their right to be in the UK.
The Home Secretary faced calls to quit over the "cruel" and "inhumane" scandal, MPs said.
A taskforce is now to be set up to deal with the problem and check none have been forced to leave the country.
Are you a member of the Windrush generation and having problems proving your status? Get in touch with [email protected] or call 020 7782 4379 to share your story