On the surface you could at first be excused for believing that the government’s handling of the windrush debacle is at best incompetence or complacency at worst. But the more stories that emerge of British citizens who arrived In this country in the 50’s and 60’s, having worked, lived and paid taxes all their adult lives, not being allowed back into the country on returning from holiday, the more I realise that this is not some bureaucratic mix up but in fact part of a wider redrafting of the Immigration Act with the sole intention of keeping official figures down of people entering the country.
To add insult to injury some of these people are even finding themselves detained at immigration centres while their right to remain is verified or denied at the stroke of a pen.
The fact that most of these people have national insurance numbers, DWP records and national health numbers which show quite clearly the contributions they have made and the number of years over which these contribution have been made it seems to have made no difference whatsoever to decision makers.
But what incenses me the most is having to watch the age old propaganda machinery of disinformation being spoon fed to a xenophobic public, some of whom don’t want black people in their country. Disinformation such as:
” 492 West Indians arrive on the windrush to help re- build Britain “.
Makes no mention of the 1000’s of West Indian servicemen who joined the armed services, my own father being one, who first came to Britain to defend the mother country against fascism .
” These people are seeking a better life in Britain”.
These people are British subjects born on a British colony. Subjects of the King / Queen with the right to settle anywhere in the British empire.
The government may well claim to be only obeying orders as mandated by public opposition to its seemingly liberal immigration policy, but politicians cannot create and bring into law policies that adversely affect one section of our society purely to gain votes. Integrity and honesty must be at the heart of every decision made in parliament. Integrity to the West Indian soldiers who gave their lives defending this country in war time. Honesty to their families and relatives many of whom arrived on the Windrush and were promised that their right to remain status was settled.
It may well be the right time to have a open frank discussion in this country about the history of our great empire and the injustices of the past and then how we can move forward together as one nation united in our Britishness.
A Black Perspective 