Renewing the call for an Independent Public Inquiry into the Windrush (Home Office) Scandal

 

In 2019 we started a petition calling for an Independent Public Inquiry into the Windrush Scandal.  There have been new calls for such an inquiry and because the matter is now urgent due to the age of  the Windrush Generation, we are renewing our petition call with the update below, setting out why we think this is needed now, which you can also access via the petition  site.

Click here to sign 

It has been a long time since we started this petition with a global pandemic between then and now.  I first called for an Independent Public Inquiry into the Windrush Scandal via the government petition site at the start of 2019 but it failed to gain the required number of signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament within the set six months permitted for such petitions, so we launched this one.

 We at BARAC UK have continued to call for an independent public inquiry since then and feel that we  should continue with this petition to call for one for a number of reasons.

 

The long awaited and delayed Windrush Lessons Learned review, which was published in 2020, had a  narrow and limited focus and did not have the powers or scope of a Public Inquiry with a failure to implement the vast majority of recommendations in any meaningful way.

In 2024 the Home Office came under criticism for failure to release a report into the roots of the Windrush Scandal, spanning thirty years of  racist immigration legislation which continues to this day.

“The Home Office has been forced to release a suppressed report on the origins of the Windrush scandal by a tribunal judge who quoted George Orwell in a judgment criticising the department’s lack of transparency.

For the past three years, Home Office staff have worked to bury a hard-hitting research paper that states that roots of the scandal lay in 30 years of racist immigration legislation designed to reduce the UK’s non-white population.

The 52-page analysis by a Home Office-commissioned historian, who has not been named, described how “the British empire depended on racist ideology in order to function” and explained how this ideology had driven immigration laws passed in the postwar period.

The department rejected several freedom of information requests asking for the Historical Roots of the Windrush Scandal to be released, arguing that publication might damage affected communities’ “trust in government” and “its future development of immigration policy.”

When we were campaigning to expose the Windrush Scandal several freedom of information requests we made to the Home Office were ignored and  had to be escalated multiple times to the highest levels with the Information Commissioners Office to force some sort of response.

 

This year there have been calls by prominent campaigners we have worked alongside with for a public inquiry:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/22/campaigner-calls-for-judge-led-public-inquiry-into-windrush-scandal

https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2025-news/windrush-generation-lawyer-jacqueline-mckenzie-calls-for-home-secretary-to-launch-statutory-inquiry-into-the-windrush-scandal/

You may also be interested in reading this community led inquiry report:

https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/x15qv/the-windrush-justice-inquiry-report

 

We have quite rightly  seen public inquiries take place into the horrendous Infected Blood Scandal and Post Office Scandal  and we send our full solidarity to everyone impacted by those scandals. But that lead to the question of why has there not  been a public inquiry into the Windrush Scandal? Why are we still having to demand this. Why are we still being treated like third class citizens.

 

Why is this urgent?

 

Because we have seen too many of those who faced injustice because of the Windrush Scandal, including being made destitute, exiled from the UK for decades,  losing homes, jobs, livelihoods, torn apart from loved ones and families for years, stripped of their dignity and human rights, detained and deported, refused entry back into the UK, made stateless and so much more, impacting on mental and physical health and because we have already lost too many people die and because of  time is running out before many more will pass away.

According to the government’s own records, 8,800 claims have been made for compensation, of which disgracefully, only  2,600 have received payments (up to the end of July 2024).  We believe that there are  many more who are eligible  but have not made claims because of how difficult and stressful the process. We know that initial offers have usually been insultingly low and this has meant that people have had to go through appeals too.

In June this year a Windrush Commissioner was appointed, Reverend Clive Foster, the government describe  the role of the commissioner is to ‘provide independent oversight of the government’s  work to address the Home Office Windrush Scandal and ensure the voices of victims remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice.’

We wish the Reverend well in their new role but this does not address the issues a public inquiry could address, which are to address key questions about what happened, why it happened, who is to blame and what can be done to prevent the same happening again. The latter is crucial because descendants of the Windrush Generation are still being targeted by the Home Office, with no amnesty agreed, there are still deportations of migrant people happening, refugees arriving in the UK, because they have had to flee climate change, persecution, conflict and poverty can be subjected to the new ‘one in one out’ policy  and the deport first and appeal later approach.

 

We would be grateful if you were to share this update with your networks and encourage them to sign the petition so we can grow it  and  that  you ask your local MP to write to the Home Secretary on your behalf calling for a public inquiry into the Windrush Scandal as a matter of urgency giving that time is running out for those directly impacted. If you do not know who your MP is, you can find them here.

 

Many thanks for your support.

#ConductAnIndependentPublicInquiryWindrush

Mass deportation flight to Jamaica on the 30th anniversary of the release from prison of Nelson Mandela

Mass deportation flight to Jamaica on the 30th anniversary of the release from prison of Nelson Mandela
 

Written by: Zita Holbourne and Lee Jasper.

Designed by Lee Jasper

 

Boris Johnson's government has organised another charter flight mass deportation to
Jamaica, one year after the last one. Like a dog returning to the scene of its own vomit, the Tories appear habitually addicted to racist immigration policy. This is the second such charter flight since the Windrush scandal was widely exposed, as targeting Caribbean descent communities. This new mass deportation is expected to take place on 11th February, which coincidentally, is the 30th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from Victor Vester prison.

We have received confirmation from several people now that they have been issued with a definite removal notice. Up to 50 people could be deported on this flight, people who will be torn apart from families including their young children, who have lived most of their lives in the UK and those still going through a deportation appeals process.

Artwork by Zita Holbourne 

Over the past week, there has been an escalation in people being detained whilst attending their regular signing in sessions at Reporting Centres around the country with Immigration Officers then transferring detainees to removal centres.

These are all people who are fearfully complying with Home Office requirements, and are now subjected to forcible detention. The government's cynical rounding up of vulnerable people, seen as nothing more than disposable garbage to be taken out, is shameful and unacceptable.

The British High Commissioner to Jamaica has alleged, that all those booked on the flight have criminal records and are not related to Windrush. But we know that it includes people who are appealing against Home Office decisions. Last year, people who were originally booked on a flight to Jamaica, successfully legally challenged their deportation leading to them being removed from the flight.

A whole year has passed only for them to be targeted again. All of the cases we have been made aware of involve individuals who have families here in the UK including children and, in some cases, even grandchildren. Most are people who
have spent the majority of their lives in the UK and who are to be deported to what will be a strange country as far as their lived experience is concerned.

Poster by artist Zita Holbourne 

Some will have been criminalised by virtue of their immigration status and deportation
creates a double, or rather triple punishment when you account for the periods they were detained.A British born person would not be sentenced for a crime, serve their time, be rehabilitated only to be denied access to essential services such as health care, detained in inhumane
facilities, to find their life even worse than when serving time in prison, only then be
deported to a strange country, separated from loved ones, left destitute and alone.

We believe that as there is clearly no guarantee of fairness and justice there should be no deportations and that the government must stop racially targeting Caribbean communities and their families.
Given the ongoing Windrush Scandal and the government's failure to adequately
compensate victims (with the vast majority receiving no compensation to date) we can have no faith that these detainees have been treated fairly and within the law.

Our communities have suffered enough over recent years because of the scandal, which is on top of racism and injustice amplified by austerity. It is not acceptable for the government to return to the discredited policy of creating a racially hostile environment for black people.

Artwork by Zita Holbourne 

The British High Commissioner to Jamaica may claim that those targeted on this charter flight have no link to the Windrush generation but the reality is that if it were not for the legacy of colonialism, their families would not have come to the UK in order to work hard and help the post-war recovery in the 1950s and 60s and they in turn would not have come to the UK to join their close family members.

Some of those targeted for these deportations included people who have served in the British armed forces, British when it suited the government but now deemed both undesirable and illegal. Having valiantly served Queen and country in active service, they are now cast aside with some suffering injuries and post-traumatic stress.

We have called an emergency protest to oppose the flight and wider injustice of the
government's hostile environment including the failure to make compensation accessible to all the families impacted by the brutality of the Windrush scandal.

Copyright BARAC UK: Windursh Day of Action, June 2019, Westminster  Bridge 

The protest will commence at 6 pm on Thursday 6th February opposite Downing Street. It is called by BARAC UK and BAME Lawyers for Justice which is an umbrella body for a group of Black and Asian race equality activists, lawyers and Windrush justice groups, all are welcome to join us. The action is also supported by the Society of Black Lawyers, Blaksox and Momentum Black Caucus.

Whilst the British government have a lot to answer for, we cannot forget or let off the hook those complicit with the process of deporting people on charter flights, the airlines, security companies, pilots, etc. but also governments of countries such as Jamaica, who allow these flights to land and who are paid to accept the wholesale illegal deportation of people without consideration of their circumstances and the inhumanity of their treatment.

That's why we are supporting and encourage people to join the emergency demo called by Movement for Justice at 12 noon on Monday 3rd February outside the Jamaican High Commission calling on the Jamaican Government to follow the lead of the Nigerian government and refuse to allow the plane to land.

Durham Miners Gala, 2019

We are also supporting Windrush activist, Patrick Vernon's petition; The Windrush
Compensation Scheme, demanding the application of the principles of restorative justice and fairness to the victims of the Windrush scandal, repairing the harm done by this government's hostile environment policy and its impacts on African and Caribbean communities and others from the Commonwealth. The petition demands the Home Secretary adopt a 10-point plan to write the wrongs of the Windrush Scandal. MPs have the opportunity to make amendments to the Windrush Compensation Bill at the Second
Reading of the bill in February.

We can have no confidence in this government's commitment to treat people fairly and call upon all good people to support our struggle for justice and oppose state racism.

We would also ask that you sign, share and promote the following petitions;

https://www.change.org/p/stop-all-charter-flight-mass-deportations-to-jamaica-other-commonwealth-countries


https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-conduct-an-independent-public-inquiry-into-the-windrush-scandal

https://www.change.org/p/british-airways-stop-helping-the-home-office-deport-people

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/restorative-compensation-scheme-for-windrush-scandal


If you want to get in touch please
contact bamelawyersforjustice@gmail.com or baracuk@gmail.com

Artwork by Zita Holbourne 

Jamaican Deportation Flight; Press Release

BME Lawyers 4 Justice.

Immediate release.

06/02/2019 10:40 am

Re: Jamaican Deportation Charter Flight

Who we are:

BAME Lawyers for Justice is a group coalition campaign challenging Windrush injustices and the Government hostile environment. We are an umbrella platform comprising of Society of Black Lawyers, BARAC UK, Blaksox, Windrush Action & a number of Windrush campaign groups across the UK.

We campaigned in response to the unfolding Windrush scandal calling for all deportations, including charter flights to the Caribbean, to be stopped. We advocated, organised and made representations to the Home Office and launched an online petition signed by 10000 people.

As a result of this, alongside the work of many activist organisations, the planned charter flight to Jamaica in the spring of 2018 was cancelled. Charter flights to Jamaica, but not other countries, were suspended.

Background.

We condemn the resumption of deportation charter flights to Jamaica. A flight left the UK bound to Jamaica today. We are shocked and appalled at this action, particularly as the government, has not received , nor has the public been informed, about the conclusions of the many Windrush ‘Lessons Learned’ reviews. The resumption of these deportation flights is a grievous, appalling insult to the principles of justice and fairness.

Yesterday the Home Secretary may have misled the House, when he said in response to Parliamentary Questions, that all of the 50 people planned to be deported were ‘serious criminals'.

We understand that at least 15 people were prevented from being deported, by the actions of their lawyers, supported by campaign groups. So that’s at least 15 people who may not have fitted the Home Secretary’s description. We are delighted that with your support we were able to get former British Army soldier Twane Morgan, taken of the plane in a last minute legal action.

The Home Office approach to fundamental rights of returnees has been cynical and inhumane.

We commend Twane’s legal representatives, Shivani Jegarajah, of Justitia Chambers and Rachel Okello of Rogols Solicitors both who represented, supported by a campaign team, recognising the importance of the principle of access to justice for everyone including those deemed to be foreign nationals.  Mrs Justice May granted the injunction and he was taken off the plane.

We have no confidence in the ability of the UK Border Agency to treat people fairly and in accordance with the law. We don’t believe that the public would support deportation in many of these cases, were the details of their individual circumstances known.

We call upon the British government, to stop all deportations, until such time as the lessons from Windrush can be properly learned, systems reformed, and equality of all citizens before the law can be equally guaranteed, without regard to race.

We full support the Stansted 15 who are in court today after protesting a deportation flight in  2017 and we note the extraordinary escalation of their charges by the Crown Prosecution Service. If these flights continue, we may see many more such protests.

Quotes from the group:

Zita Holbourne, Chair of BARAC UK said;

“It is irresponsible and inhumane to conduct wholesale deportations of people, tearing them from families & demonising and labelling them.

I have been leading the campaign for justice for Twane, who has literally been used by the British government & then neglected & discarded . It has been a rollercoaster 24 hours, a high court injunction granted last eve, only to be contacted by Twane in the early hours of this morning with the news that he is being transported to the airport & being deported. Twane was put on the plane, cuffed to two security guards and only just removed from the flight just before take off. "

Adding.

“This was emotional torture for Twane & his loved ones and totally unnecessary. Until there is a concluded independent public inquiry, this scandalous inhumane treatment of people must stop.”

Lee Jasper of Blaksox said,

“The Windrush scandal is a matter of utter national shame and disgrace. That Her Majesty's Government would embark on a campaign that targeted Black British citizens with the illegal forced detention and removal, is not only reprehensible, but strikes at the heart of concepts of justice, fairness and equality before the law. This Government has unilaterally cancelled the social contract between the state and British black communities and the consequences are devastating. Peoples lives are being destroyed and yet the Government seems intent to ride rough shod over the rights of these deportees. This is an outrageous calumny, a barbarous and inhumane  example of institutionalised racism in practice."

He added,

“For the Government to willingly persist in these deportations, using an immigration deportation regime, proven to be institutionally racist to its core, constitutes both malign intent and hostile provocation.”

Leading Windrush Immigration and Asylum lawyer, Jacqueline McKenzie  

“These deportation charters are of grave concern. They are shrouded in secrecy and there is no adequate mechanism for ensuring that people on them have access to quality and independent advice.

To date we do not have accurate information about who was on this one and there is no evidence to support the Home Secretary's claim that it was full of very serious criminals, notwithstanding  the fact that in many cases we're talking about people who are settled in the UK and already punished for any crimes.

She added;

“Further, the very process of shackling 50 plus people, including with hand and sometimes waist restraints with each person accompanied by several guards on a 9 hour flight is dehumanizing and tantamount to torture with lifelong debilitating consequences.  There must now be an urgent review of the legality of this process and of the policies and laws which make this possible.”

Info:

We will be holding action-planning events in various cities, across England, in preparation for our Windrush National Day of Action, to take later in the year.

Planning meetings will take place simultaneously, on the 23rd February and are supported by Windrush campaign groups under the umbrella of BAME Lawyers for Justice and planned to mark United Nations World Social Justice Day.

We call on the country to do the right thing, join us and our campaign for justice and support our call for an Independent Public Inquiry into the Windrush scandal.

Petition: Conduct an Independent Public Inquiry into the Windrush Scandal

Ends

Contact; 

Zita Holbourne,                Tel 07711861660  barac.info@gmail.com

Lee Jasper,                     Tel 07984181797  lee-jasper@live.com

Jacqueline McKenzie       Tel 07961 148 568 or 020 8671 7989

Press Release; National Windrush Day of Action to take place on 23rd February 2019 (marking UN World Social Justice Day)

PRESS RELEASE;  WINDRUSH NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

Immediate Release

From; BAME Lawyers 4 Justice incorporating Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK, Blaksox, Operation Black Vote, (OBV), Society of Black Lawyers, (SBL), Momentum Black Caucus, Windrush Action Groups; Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, London


The second BAME Lawyers 4 Justice national Windrush conference was held today Sat 17th November 2018 at Nottingham University. 

Over 200 people representing black
communities from England and Wales, gathered to discuss supporting the victims of Theresa May's ‘hostile environment’, demanding among other things, a public inquiry into the Windrush scandal, churches to organise Windrush Sundays, promoting the national petition calling on Government to impose no cap or limit on financial compensation for victims and announcing a Windrush National Day of Action, to be held on Sat 23rd February 2019 on the United Nations World Day for Social Justice.

Five of Britain’s major black cities, represented by local Windrush Action Groups, all committed to taking part in the day, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham have already committed to organise simultaneous actions in each of these cities. More are urged to join the action.


Chair of the conference Mr David Weaver and Operation Black Vote trustee said;

“ The government needs to recognise the anger, tragedy and despair caused by this unprecedented and gross violation of British Black British citizens human rights.

This conference  puts the government on notice that victims will not be silenced or intimidated by the racism they’ve faced, on the contrary both Windrush victims and the county at large are rightly appalled at the treatment they’ve been forced to endure. This conference reaffirms the demand for no cap or limit on the compensation to victims and the urgent need to reform immigration legislation to ensure this never happens again.”


Desmond Jaddoo of Birmingham stated;

“The time has come to stand up and be counted. The hostile environment towards the African Caribbean community has been an ongoing part of British life for a number of years, in fact since the docking of the Empire Windrush on 22nd June 1948.

We are affected by every form of disproportionality that anyone can think off.

The treatment of the Windrush generation only epitomises the racist behaviour that our elders have been subjected to for a number of years.

We now need to send a clear message that we are here to stay, we have contributed and we are no longer putting up any form of this type of Systemic racism any longer.”

Zita Holbourne Chair of Black Activists Rising Against The Cuts (BARAC) UK, one of the key note speakers at the conference stated;

“The horrific injustice and racism experienced by multiple generations not just Windrush must be addressed but also there has to be real action taken to prevent further cases. There are already 11 reported deaths of those deported plus others who have died in the UK. Some faced with what can only be described as hell on earth have sadly taken their own lives.

The criminalisation of whole communities in this way demonstrates racist intent but the conditions forced upon people, targeted, detained, restrained, ejected from the country and made destitute and isolated, is an abuse of human rights. We call upon everyone who cares about justice, equality and human rights to stand with us and support A national Day of Action for Windrush Justice  and the call by my trade union PCS  for a Public Inquiry  ”

Jaqueline McKenzie, leading Windrush solicitor stated;

“Windrush Action Group is one of the many voices that have emerged to advocate for justice for the victims of the scandal and is led by victims with a membership of about 400 persons.

Both of today's events are important as we put the Windrush scandal within the context of the wider experiences of racism which continues to emanate from so many organisations and institutions and now with the rise of the far right, with increasing sections of society. The Windrush scandal is a major one and is as offensive as it is devastating to that generation of people who gave so much to the UK including to the families of those who have died or were deported.

But we must be vigilant because there are other equally disgraceful practices in the immigration rules and policies which includes the continued deportation of people to countries they don't know, the forced warehousing of people in hostile detention centres without time limits, the continued separation of families through onerous English language and fee requirements, the detention of non visa national holiday makers for spurious reasons, the exorbitant profit making fees and surcharges which increase yearly and the discriminatory treatment of children born in the UK to non British parents who remain undocumented.”

Lee Jasper, A Blaksox sponsor and national press officer of Momentum Black Caucus and one of the key note speakers at the conference said;

“ The illegal deportation of British Black citizens, over decades by the British State represents a most vile defilement of the citizenship rights of a people, Windrush generation, who helped rebuild this country from the ground up. The social contract between the British state and Black British citizens has been broken, smashed on the rocks of institutional racism and blind indifference.

Theresa May’s “hostile climate” is in fact the delivery of long a cherished fascist demand thought unthinkable. From Mosley , the National Front, the BNP and of late, the white neo fascist terrorist organisation, National Action, all of whom dreamed of a day when they would see the forced repatriation of British black and brown people. That day is here, that time is now, and today’s conference calls for an unprecedented action to secure justice for Windrush victims and secure black human rights and citizenship. We are not asking for justice, we intend to secure our unable rights by any means necessary.” 

Ends

Contact:

Lee Jasper;  Tel. 07984 181797 
Email; lee-jasper@live.com

David Weaver; Tel. 07983 592988

Zita Holbourne; Tel. 07711861660
Email; barac.info@gmail.com

Pastor Clive Foster; Tel. 07881 656399

PRESS RELEASE: Petition calling for owners of The Plantation to change the name

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BARAC UK launch new petition challenging racist name of new restaurant The Plantation.

“We the undersigned call on The Breakfast Group to change the name of its new restaurant The Plantation at 31 Duke Street London W1 due to open on the 1st September 2016.

We find the name deeply offensive to the millions of Africans who died during the Maangamizi (transatlantic slave trade) and the millions more who enslaved on plantations whose average life span was eight years, usually less.

Africans were literally worked to death working sugar cane to make sugar and rum for their slave masters and colonial rulers.

To therefore name a restaurant selling rum, The Planation is grossly insensitive and constitutes grave offence to the African descent communities in London and elsewhere. Plantation's we're places where people suffered and died, where Africans suffered unimaginable violence and terror at the hands of their slave masters. 

Imagine if you can how African people would feel having to work at this venue much less eat at it? 

We have no doubt that you would not name one of your venues Concentration Camp or one of your cocktails Zyklon B. 

We therefore call on you to urgently reconsider your decision in the light of this complaint and rename your venue forth with.”

Lee Jasper, Co-founder and National Co-Chair BARAC UK said:

“London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world.  That any business man can imagine that he could call a newly opened restaurant the plantation defies belief and constitutes a grievous insult to London’s diverse communities.

 Plantations were the equivalent of concentration camps and the period of African enslavement was one the greatest crimes in human history. They should change the name now. “

Zita Holbourne, Co-founder and National Co-Chair BARAC UK said;

“The decision to call this venue a plantation beggars belief. The enslavement of African people forced to work under threat & punishment was a crime against humanity, not something to be celebrated. This is degrading and an insult to the memory of our ancestors and to those whose fore parents were enslaved and made to work on plantations whilst abused, beaten & murdered who still live with the legacy of racism it created today.

To associate with that horrific era in history by calling the venue this name speaks volumes about the mindset of those who own it & is another example of the state of racism in the UK as documented this week in the detailed report released by the Equality & Human Rights Commission. It has echoes of Brett Bailey's human zoo. I hope the owners see sense & demonstrate some decency and respect by doing the right thing.”

https://www.change.org/p/eric-yu-co-owner-the-breakfast-group-close-the-plantation-restaurant-london?recruiter=23846416&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=mob-xs-no_src-reason_msg&fb_ref=Default

Ends

Contact:

Zita Holbourne & Lee Jasper

Co-founders/ National Co-Chairs

Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC UK)

Email: barac.info@gmail.com

Web: http://blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/BARACUK

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts#!/groups/108132359239521/

CAMPAIGN FOR A NATIONAL WINDRUSH DAY, POEM DEDICATED BY ZITA HOLBOURNE, CO-FOUNDER OF BARAC & POET

Join the Call For Windrush Day and Sign the Petition

By Zita Holbourne

 

This week I joined the call for a National Windrush Day signing a letter published in The Times alongside journalists, activists, trade union leaders, politicians, authors, academics and celebrities. On the 65th anniversary of the arrival of Empire Windrush, 22nd June 2013  a petition was launched , I addressed the 4000 strong People's Assembly and announced the campaign to rapturous applause from the audience.  I believe that the massive contribution Caribbean migrants to the UK against a background of hostility and racism and signs of 'No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs' when they arrived, have made should be acknowledged and celebrated. Especially in this period of austerity impacting disproportionately on black workers, service users and communities, where race equality on the political agenda has been replaced with racism and institutional racism has increased.

 watch the video of me speaking at the People's Assembly about the campaign

 

In support of the campaign I am dedicating my poem, Redefining History .

WATCH ME PERFORM 'REDEFNING HISTORY' HERE 

READ THE POEM HERE

 

LETTER IN THE TIMES

Windrush Day is an opportunity to give thanks for the positive contributions made by those who have come from overseas to Britain to our common home.
All of us – whether we are immigrants ourselves, the children and grandchildren of immigrants, or able to trace our family histories back to much earlier arrivals to Britain – have a responsibility to uphold a positive vision of multi-ethnic and multi-faith Britain as a shared society which is welcoming, just and fair to all.
Many aspects of British society today would be unrecognisable without the contributions which immigration and integration have made to our society over the generations: from the NHS to the monarchy, our language and literature, our culture and food, even the Olympic team that we cheered together last year.
It was therefore fitting that Danny Boyle’s Olympic opening ceremony featured the Windrush’s arrival as part of its popular account of how our history has shaped the country that we are today.
The 65th anniversary of the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks is a chance to reach across our many different ethnic, faith and family heritages, to reject prejudice and intolerance, and to shape a fair and inclusive future that we all want to share. This and every year, Windrush Day should be an inclusive celebration of the Britain that we are proud to call home.
For more information: please contact Patrick Vernon at Every Generation patrick@everygeneration.co.uk
British Future is a new independent, non-partisan thinktank seeking to involve people in an open conversation, which addresses people’s hopes and fears about identity and integration, migration and opportunity, so that we feel confident about Britain’s Future
SUPPORTERS OF WINDRUSH DAY:
Arthur Torrington CBE, Windrush Foundation
Sam King MBE, 1948 Windrush passenger
Patrick Vernon OBE, founder of 100 Great Black Britons
Revd. Sivakumar Rajagopalan London Baptist Association
Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future
Zadie Smith, Author
Malorie Blackman OBE, Children’s Laureate
Doreen Lawrence OBE
Diane Abbott MP
Gavin Barwell MP
Kris Hopkins MP
Dame Tessa Jowell MP
Sadiq Khan MP
David Lammy MP
Sarah Teather MP
Paul Uppal MP
Lord Victor Adebowale CBE
Baroness Elizabeth Berridge
Lord Alf Dubs
Baroness Oona King
Lord Herman Ouseley
Syed Kamall MEP
Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress
Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Playwright
Lemn Sissay MBE, Author
Hardeep Singh Kohli
Camila Batmanghelidjh CBE, Chief Executive, Kids Company
John Akomfrah OBE, Film director
Ellah Wakatama Allfrey OBE, Deputy Editor of Granta
Rosie Bairwal, National Co-ordinator, Catholic Association for Racial Justice
Dr Rob Berkeley, Director, The Runnymede Trust
Professor Dinesh Bhugra CBE, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London
Ian Birrell, The Independent and former speechwriter for David Cameron
Julian Bond, Director, Christian Muslim Forum
Mihir Bose
Zrinka Bralo, Executive Director, Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum
Margaret Busby OBE, Publisher
Sokari Douglas Camp CBE
Dr Augustus Casely-Hayford, Historian
Ila Chandavarkar, Development Coordinator, MENTER
Karen Chouhan, Director, Equanomics
Anthony Clavane, sportswriter and author
Colette Corkhurst, Equality Officer Unite
Jeremy Crook OBE, Black Training & Enterprise Group
Felix Cross MBE, Artistic Director, Nitro Theatre Company
Luke Daniels, President of Caribbean Labour Solidarity
Richard Dowden, Director, The Royal African Society
Don Flynn, Director, Migrant Rights Network
Dr Robert Ford, University of Manchester
Bob Foster, Founder of Windrush Nurses and Beyond Foundation
Lord Anthony Gifford QC
Ram Gidoomal CBE, Chairman, South Asian Development Partnership
Sharon Grant, Secretary, The Bernie Grant Trust
Bonnie Greer OBE, Chancellor, Kingston University
Andy Gregg, Chief Executive, ROTA
Prof Stuart Hall, Professor Emeritus, Open University
Zita Holbourne, National Co-chair BARAC UK & PCS NEC
Lady Hollick OBE
Lester Holloway, Liberal Democrats Race Equality Taskforce
Sunny Hundal, editor, Liberal Conspiracy website
Revd. Wale Hudson-Roberts, Racial Justice Group, Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Rev Dr Michael N Jagessar, Moderator, Assembly of the United Reformed Church
Kamaljeet Jandu, National Officer GMB
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Venerable Danny Kajumba, Archdeacon of Reigate, Chair of the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns
Jackie Kay MBE, Author
Omar Khan, Chairman, Bradford Bulls RLFC
Ratna Lachman, Director, JUST West Yorkshire
Michelle Lawrence, Director, Link Up (UK) & the Great British Community
John Mayford, Director, OLMEC
Roger McKenzie OBE, Assistant General Secretary UNISON
Mia Morris OBE, Founder, Black History Month
Dr Susheila Nasta MBE FRAS
Maajid Nawaz, Co-founder and Chairman, Quilliam Foundation
Dr Alastair Niven LVO, OBE
Ms Lara Oyedele, Chair, BMENational
Dave Pendleton, curator, Bantams Past, Bradford City FC
Hugh Quarshie, Actor
Paulette Randall, Associate Director of the Olympics opening ceremony
Paul Reid, Director of Black Cultural Archives
Barbara Roche, Chair of Migration Museum
Sheila Rowbotham, Historian and writer
George Ruddock, Editor, The Voice Newspaper
Neena Samota, Coalition for Racial Justice (UK)
Marika Sherwood, historian, The Black and Asian Studies Association

Julie Siddiqi, Executive Director, Islamic Society of Britain

Dr Maria Sobolewska, University of Manchester
Dr Shirley J. Thompson, Composer
Daniel Trilling, New Statesman
Rudolph Walker OBE, Actor
Chris Whitwell, Director, Friends, Families and Travellers
Verna Wilkins, Author
Ansel Wong, Executive Director, Hansib Publications
Simon Woolley, Director, Operation Black Vote
Maurice Wren, Chief Executive, Refugee Council
Shirley McGreal, Publisher, Keep The Faith

 http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/join-calls-to-celebrate-windrush-day-every-year

Zita Holbourne is co-founder and National Co-Chair of BARAC UK, a trade union and community activist and a poet and artist.