Grant Windrush victims UK citizenship 'within 100 days of new government'

Campaigners are demanding citizenship to be granted to all families affected by the Home Office's Windrush scandal within the first 100 days of the new government. Ahead of Windrush Day celebrations today, a coalition of anti-racism charities and groups has unveiled a “Home Office scandal manifesto”, outlining key demands for new ministers after the 4 July general election.

- NADINE WHITE

The “manifesto for Windrush justice” calls for the government to give British citizenship and waive passport fees for everyone affected by the Windrush scandal who arrived before 1 January 1973 and their children, as well as an amnesty for Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the UK for more than 30 years.

Campaigners say a significant backlog exists in the Windrush documentation scheme and that the government’s own estimates suggest more than 50,000 people may be eligible. The manifesto, led by the Action for Race Equality charity (Are), calls for urgent reforms to heal the “unconscionable” trauma inflicted on Windrush generations, including a statutory inquiry into the scandal.