Clive Myrie: Windrush scandal ‘an utter disgrace’ that badly affected my household
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reside Myrie has spoken of how the Windrush scandal hit his household as he known as the Home Office coverage an “utter disgrace”.
The newsreader, 59, talked in an upcoming ebook Everything Is Everything: A Memoir Of Love, Hate & Hope, about how his two half-brothers have been affected.
Born and raised in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Myrie grew up the son of Windrush era dad and mom from Jamaica.
He claimed in extracts, printed in The Times, that one half-brother, Lionel, had been denied advantages and healthcare however was capable of show that he was in a college choir because of a pre-1971 Bolton Evening News {photograph}.
The BBC Mastermind presenter mentioned Lionel was nonetheless awaiting each compensation and a British passport.
Another half-brother, Peter, was unable to journey to Jamaica along with his daughter to indicate her the Caribbean nation and died earlier than he may go following a prostate most cancers prognosis, in line with Myrie.
In the ebook, the journalist mentioned he was “angry and also ashamed of my own country” on account of the expertise.
He instructed the newspaper: “We’re all agreed that what has happened is a complete and utter disgrace – the question is: what do you do about it?
“I’m still hoping society understands what happened and tries to rectify it. You know, these people need restitution and that hasn’t happened yet – even though we all agree that something needs to be done.”
Speaking about what the general public will consider his private expertise, Myrie mentioned: “That’s interesting, isn’t it? The shock will probably come because people think they know me. But it could have happened to anyone with relations who came here under the Nationality Act.
“It could have happened to the family of (broadcaster Sir) Trevor McDonald, (comedian Sir) Lenny Henry, (footballer) Marcus Rashford. That’s the thing.”
In 2017, it started to emerge that tons of of Commonwealth residents, lots of whom have been from the Windrush era, had been wrongly detained, deported and denied authorized rights.
It noticed many British residents, principally from the Caribbean, denied entry to healthcare and advantages and threatened with deportation regardless of having the proper to reside within the UK.
Recently, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) prolonged a legally binding motion plan set as much as deal with the Home Office’s failures to adjust to the legislation following the implementation of the “hostile environment” coverage.
In July, a Home Office spokesperson mentioned “our determination to right the wrongs of the Windrush scandal remains as strong as ever” and the Government division added it’s dedicated to “robust and proportionate policies”.
Myrie, who has additionally been a overseas correspondent and travelled to cowl the battle in Ukraine, claims that somebody on the BBC appeared over his ebook with “with a fine-tooth comb” to make sure its impartiality.
The newspaper studies that Myrie makes reference to former prime minister Theresa May’s speech about “citizens of nowhere”, calling it “utter nonsense”.
He additionally mentioned: “(The BBC) has to get it right in terms of public mood and opinion, because it’s paid for by everybody through the licence fee and if it doesn’t get the mood right, it’s finished.”
On Saturday, a Home Office spokesperson mentioned: “The whole of Government remain absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal.
“Extensive support is in place to help people access the Windrush compensation scheme. Already we have paid or offered more than £75 million in compensation to those affected and we continue to make improvements so people receive the maximum award as quickly as possible.”
The newest information launch reveals that on the finish of June, £65.78 million has been paid throughout and an extra £11.98 million has been provided, awaiting acceptance, or pending overview.
The Government division has a number of methods to assist individuals with claims together with by cellphone, a susceptible individuals crew for profit and housing assist, and other people can get help for filling out kinds by way of the We Are Digital service.