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The Untold: Weathering Windrush

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23/07/2018

Weathering Windrush

BBC Radio 4 - The Untold, Weathering Windrush

The reality of life for those caught up in the Windrush scandal is explored in The Untold.

Lloyd Grant came to the UK when he was 11, joining his parents, who had found jobs and set up home here. As a victim of the unfolding Windrush scandal, he has suffered greatly.

Lloyd Grant came to the UK when he was eleven, joining his parents, who had found jobs and set up home here. As a victim of the unfolding Windrush scandal he has suffered greatly.

Having worked for London Transport and had four children here, Lloyd was completely unprepared to find himself on the wrong side of what was to become an unfolding immigration nightmare. Within weeks he lost his job, was told that he was ineligible for benefits or even health care: eventually he was forced out of his home through mounting debt and started sleeping in hospital waiting rooms and in the foyer of the local YMCA. He feared that he would be deported back to Jamaica - a country he left at eleven, when he came to join parents who had made a new life in London.

The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, last week announced the launch of a consultation so that people can have their say on how compensation for victims like Lloyd should work. The process is being overseen by Martin Forde, QC, who is himself the son of Windrush parents and in the programme he meets Lloyd and considers some of the aspects raised by his story. He is keen to understand both the financial and the psychological impact on the 5,000 or so victims of the scandal and although he is unable to put a figure on likely payments, he thinks there will be a cap on the amount people receive.

Lloyd is one of many who have suffered through the Government's 'hostile environment policy,' which requires employers and other bodies to demand evidence of citizenship. Although he had held a British passport, he had lost it and his original landing card proving his legitimate entry into the country had been destroyed. The result was that he could not even return to the Caribbean for his mother's funeral and he has lost everything he built up in this country. Now he is starting from scratch, with a temporary place in a hotel and a promise that he will be given citizenship. The Untold follows his efforts to rebuild his life.

Produced by Sue Mitchell and Viv Jones.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Factual: Life Stories

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