Labour blasts ‘institutionally racist Tories’
Mrs May ‘should rethink position’
THE Tories have been branded “institutionally racist” for failing to protect Windrush families in their crackdown on immigration.
As Labour demanded Home Secretary Amber Rudd resigns, Shadow Equalities Minister Dawn Butler insisted Theresa May herself had “presided over racist legislation”.
Asked if the Prime Minister could be personally accused of racism, Ms Butler said: “Yes. Speaking as myself – as the daughter of Jamaican parents – I’m saying Theresa May presided over racist legislation.
“Her policies, that she implemented, have disproportionately affected people from the Commonwealth and people of colour.
“If you look at what institutional racism is, that’s what her policies are delivering.” She said Mrs May should “not only reconsider her position, but reconsider her policies.” Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry warned the scandal showed “something rotten at the heart of government”, saying of Ms Rudd: “I really think she should quit.” By Friday the Home Office was examining 286 cases of Commonwealth migrants who arrived before 1973.
Jeremy Corbyn told Labour’s Welsh Conference: “People’s lives have been ripped apart because of the personal decisions of Theresa May.”
I’m saying Theresa May has presided over racist legislation DAWN BUTLER MP ON WINDRUSH SCANDAL
MRS May’s feeble attempt to shift the blame for the current Windrush fiasco continues the now well-worn Tory theme of blaming the previous Labour government for everything.
It would not surprise me if May had been made aware of the destruction of the landing cards by senior civil servants, but in the heat of the drive to reduce immigration to the “tens of thousands” considered it an irrelevance without thinking the implications through.
Negligence comes to mind and her body language at the despatch box seemed to me to portray someone who knew the chickens were coming home to roost. She’s a desperate lady making smoke to deflect attention from all the problems her government has caused.
Mick Waites, Portsmouth
The “hostile environment” for immigrants created by Mrs May as Home Secretary has impacted Windrush and other Commonwealth citizens in life-changing and lifedestroying ways that can never be compensated for. Her policies of hate and division also involved the Go Home boards on trucks touring our streets which, in turn, awakened the sleeping giant of racial hatred. This evil act will take years to put back in its box. It was an irresponsible act and one that has irreparably destroyed many Windrush families’ lives.
John Sullivan Edgware, Gtr London
The attitude of this Tory government is despicable. The immigrants of the 1950s were invited here to help us recover from the damage caused by the war.
Now, because Cameron and May were desperate to reduce immigration numbers to meet election pledges, they demanded all must prove their legal status.
The Windrush families and their children were easy targets and Home Office staff were instructed to take a hard line, causing immense distress. Resignations are irrelevant and Tory apologies insincere.
We need a rapid election to get rid of this penny-pinching and heartless government.
Terry Marriott, Waterlooville, Hants
The Windrush saga is a scandal with old ladies threatened with deportation. People on benefits are treated with the same brutality. It is time we had a Royal Commission into bureaucracy. It could investigate why bureaucrats, both national and local, are totally devoid of any feelings for the vulnerable.
Alan Meadowcroft, Gtr Manchester
It is shocking and rather puzzling as to how the Windrush families were suddenly not able to be found “in the system” and had all their rights taken away, yet HMRC continued to be able to tax them.
Charles Curruthers, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Gtr Manchester
After Grenfell and Windrush I have to wonder how much racism there is among this country’s political elite? They may come out with the right things in public but
their policies say differently.
R Smith, Hull
This is the same hostile environment created for benefit claimants by the DWP. In the past few years the way they speak to people has changed in tone.
Shaun Watson Carlisle, Cumbria