Windrush, Brexit and a ‘Curry Crisis’

Column in the Jamaica Observer published 8 July 2019

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

We learned about the #WidenWindrush campaign from our relative ‘Angel’ Lorraine Young during a recent visit to London. Lorraine and her mother Fay Young serve on a Committee led by her Member of Parliament, Janet Daby, which has been calling for an amendment to the Windrush Scheme which “would provide a route to citizenship for the descendants and family members of the Windrush Generation.”

My husband Hubie Chin with our relatives Lorraine 'Angel' Young and
her Mother Mrs Fay Young, activists for #WidenWindrush, on our visit to the
Houses of Parliament in London

At a Briefing held on June 19 MP Daby explained that the Windrush Scheme had been set up “to address the difficulties faced by members of the Windrush generation, large numbers of whom were prevented from working and subjected to detention/removal as a result of Hostile Environment policies”.  She noted that “it established the basis for the Windrush Taskforce to expedite these cases without fees and ensuring speedy documentation was issued. It is the central practical measure introduced to remedy this important generation had been subject to.”

The briefing noted that the roots of the Windrush scandal started from the discriminatory aspects of the 1971 Immigration Act “which (along with the 1968 Legislation) came into being on the back of a racist backlash to Black and Asian immigration, led by Enoch Powell.”

Note this important point: “The 1971 Act cemented the rights of those who were born British in the colonies and commonwealth and were already settled in Britain, not as full British Citizens, but as people with the right to be treated ‘as if’ they were British Citizens.”

To quote our favourite English playwright, William Shakespeare, “There’s the rub”: the words “as if” meant that the Windrush generation and their descendants would still be regarded as second class citizens.  This is in stark contrast to the privilege granted to residents of “the older colonies” mentioned in the act – namely the USA and Australia, who could easily claim British Citizenship through its Patriality Clause.

Now that there is wide recognition of the Windrush Generation’s contribution to the development of Britain, MP Daly says it is unacceptable that their descendants and family members continue to be subject to removal and detention.

We heard the stories of relatives being detained and threatened with deportations. There are many appeals on their behalf, now pending.

A “BAME Summit” is being planned for later this month as the Committee is concerned about the racist undertones of the Brexit movement.  The Briefing noted, “Brexit lays the basis for another Windrush scandal, and is Britain’s contribution to dangerous growing white nationalism across Europe that physically threatens our sisters and brothers, settled and arriving from Africa, Asia and the Middle East regions.”

Rita Mitra and I at Windrush Square, Brixton

Windrush Square

My friend Rita Mitra was kind enough to take me to Windrush Square in Brixton where I placed flowers at a Memorial to honour African and Caribbean soldiers who had served in World Wars I and II in memory of my dear Dad who served in the Royal Air Force.

Placing flowers in memory of my dear Dad
Joscelyn Lowrie, who served in the Royal Air Force

Rita hosted us at a famous Indian restaurant in Euston called Diwana.  With Indian food being so popular in Britain, folks are concerned about a looming “curry crisis”.

According to a report in the UK Standard, “Curry house bosses told how they felt ‘used’, ‘let down’ and may have been given ‘false hope’ by politicians that quitting the EU would allow more workers in from South Asia to address staff shortages.”

Bloomberg reported on the losses of leading Indian Restauranteur Syed Joynu: “This was nothing like what he was promised in the Brexit campaign he supported … immigration has become tighter, business has suffered, and the workers from eastern Europe he had come to rely on have fled. Getting chefs over to work in Britain’s cherished Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants is near impossible under current immigration laws.”

The report quotes Joynu: “We didn’t realize what would happen after Brexit and thought we’d be better off. If there’s a second vote now, I’d vote to remain in the EU.”

Enjoying Cambridge with Family

In spite of these ripples, we tourists had a great time in England. We had an extensive tour of the Houses of Parliament, courtesy of Lorraine Young enjoyed lunch at the popular Happy Halibut, visited family at Coulsdon and in Cambridge. Imagine, attending the Cambridge Midsummer Fair in its 808^th year! The countryside is beautiful, and we felt especially blessed at the sung Mass at the Church of Our Lady and the British Martyrs.