The Windrush commissioner has called for urgent reform of the government’s compensation scheme after survivors warned that “the Home Office is waiting for us to die off.” In a letter to ministers, the Reverend Clive Foster said it was “deeply concerning” that 66 people affected by the scandal have died while awaiting payments. The scheme, introduced in 2019, was meant to deliver justice to those wrongfully targeted under the government’s “hostile environment” immigration policies. Yet delays, rejected claims and what survivors describe as an opaque process have left many still waiting for redress years later.
Survivors Left in Limbo
Foster, who took up the role of Windrush commissioner in June, acknowledged recent improvements under the new Labour government but said survivors continue to report long waits and unclear decisions. “Justice must be delivered in their lifetimes,” he warned. Survivors have told him the process feels “opaque and unjust,” with one phrase repeated so often it has become emblematic of their frustration: “the Home Office is waiting for us to die off.” Foster said he did not share that belief but felt ministers needed to hear it as a sign of the deep mistrust surrounding the scheme.
Recommendations for Reform
In his letter to Seema Malhotra, the minister for migration and equalities, and shared with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Foster laid out several proposals. These include making the process more “trauma-informed,” ensuring partial payments are available for those awaiting reviews, and prioritising older or seriously ill applicants. He also urged the government to recognise losses in pensions and future earnings, which he said had left survivors facing “long-term economic hardship.” Publishing performance data such as average processing times and satisfaction levels, he argued, would bring much-needed transparency to the scheme.
Questions Over Advocacy Support
The government established a £1.5m advocacy fund earlier this year to help applicants, but campaigners argue it falls short and that survivors need access to legal aid. Foster said he had heard troubling reports of survivors receiving “nil awards” or inadequate offers that were only revised upwards after legal intervention. He recommended an independent review of such cases to ensure fairness. Survivors, he added, describe the application process as overwhelming and at times “re-traumatising,” with insensitive communication and unrealistic demands for evidence adding to the strain.
Stranded Survivors Abroad
Foster also highlighted the plight of Windrush survivors still stuck overseas. He cited the case of George Lee, who was stranded in Poland for 28 years after being wrongly told he had no right to return to Britain. Even after his return, Lee faced “significant challenges” rebuilding his life. Another case involved 81-year-old Hannah Dankwa, a British citizen stranded in Ghana while in poor health. Officials are now expected to issue her with emergency travel documents, but Foster said the episode had triggered “a lot of anger” and fuelled concerns that Home Office culture “had yet to change.”
Government Response
The Home Office said Foster’s appointment was intended to help “drive lasting change” and pledged to continue addressing the wrongs of the Windrush scandal. A spokesperson said: “We thank Rev Foster for his initial recommendations, many of which we are already implementing, and ministers will meet with him shortly to discuss further improvements to our schemes.” A government source added that “immediate work” was being commissioned on the issues he raised, including pension losses — a commitment first made nearly a year ago but still awaiting progress.
The Windrush scandal, which exposed the wrongful detention, deportation and denial of rights to thousands of Commonwealth citizens, remains one of the most damaging episodes in recent British political history. More than five years after the compensation scheme was set up, survivors say delays continue to compound their suffering. Foster’s intervention is a fresh warning that unless reforms are made quickly, many may never see the justice they were promised.
