Diane Abbott claims Windrush scandal shows what is in store for EU nationals after Brexit
DIANE ABBOTT has claimed that EU nationals could face similar treatment as the Windrush immigrants and that she was concerned about “how fair the Home Office” would be.
Abbott: Windrush scandal will make EU nationals frightened
Diane Abbott claimed that there was a fear that citizens from the European Union could be treated the same way after Brexit, as the Windrush generation following the scandal.
Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, told BBC Radio 4 Today: “Well I have met with some EU nationals living here and they are very concerned about how efficient and how fair the Home Office processing will be.
“This Windrush case will make them even more frightened.”
Thousands of Windrush migrants who arrived in the UK after World War II are being threatened with deportation amid rule changes.
They are very concerned about how efficient and how fair the Home Office processing will be
Last year, up to 100 EU citizens were wrongly sent deportation letters, which Mrs May described as an “unfortunate error”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation for St. Kitts and Nevis, Mark Brantley, has also said this could set a precedent for how immigrants are treated after the UK leaves the European Union.
He said: “Countries clearly have the right to determine who they let in and who they don’t let in, this particular generation of people are the exception because they were British nationals at the time of arrival.
“But I think the way that the British Government deal with the Windrush generation might have implications post-Brexit.
“In terms of how Europeans live in England are to be treated and vice-versa.”
Piers Morgan rages at Theresa May over Windrush scandal
The crisis arose after an unknown number of individuals, who arrived from the Caribbean as children but never applied for British passports or citizenship, have faced growing threats of deportation.
These individuals have also faced huge hurdles in regards to accessing rented homes, work, and services such as state pensions and NHS treatment, after the Government imposed new rules demanding a proof of residence.
Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport said: “It is very important that our immigration system is robust but it is also very important that it is fair.
“We’ve been very clear that we want to put stuff right the anxieties that many people from the Windrush generation have felt and make sure we get those systems right.