The Windrush scandal: then and now

This briefing explains the Windrush scandal, highlighting how unresolved racism within immigration and nationality law continues to undermine the Home Office’s handling of British citizenship, and sets out the systemic reforms still required.

What has become known as the Windrush scandal broke in the media in early 2018, with formal apologies in April of that year from the Prime Minister and Home Secretary.

Steps were taken to remedy some of the injustices that had been done to many people, including long overdue steps to restore people's right to citizenship and to stay in the UK. A compensation scheme was also established, and a lengthy review undertaken to learn lessons.

However, it remains clear that lessons are far from learned, beginning with learning the overarching wrong of pursuing racist motivations through first immigration law then British nationality law. This continues to underpin a failure to recognize and address how racism and injustice is still embedded in the Home Office management of its responsibilities for British citizenship.

This briefing explains the scandal and the systemic changes of culture, policy and practice that remain outstanding, with particular attention to the right to British citizenship that was at the root of this scandal and the harms it caused.