Windrush debate report

This highlight of this morning’s session was a powerful speech from North West divisional representative Ian Taylor condemning the Government for the appalling Windrush scandal.

People who came to the UK several decades ago, have settled here and brought up children and grandchildren have suddenly been told they must “prove” their citizenship.

Many have had health and other services denied to them under new government rules, with some even having been detained and threatened with deportation – to countries they left many years ago as children.

Moving an emergency motion condemning the Government’s actions and demanding justice, Ian Taylor insisted that this has to stop and that adequate compensation must be given to all who have suffered.

It was “shameful” and a “disgrace” that this group of valued citizens of this country were being treated in this way, he said, and received a rousing and prolonged ovation when he appealed to conference to back the motion.

Over a dozen delegates got up to speak to the emergency motion, all of them staunchly backing Ian’s appeal, and the debate was concluded by senior deputy general secretary Tony Kearns.

Speaking on behalf of the CWU executive, Tony pledged the union’s full support for any member affected by this and demanded the resignation of the Home Secretary.

“Let’s call this for what it is – it’s racism – and Amber Rudd must go.”