Labour to force binding vote on release of all Government papers behind Windrush scandal
2 min read
Labour has called for a Commons vote on Wednesday which could force ministers to publish all internal government memos on the Windrush scandal.
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott will use ancient parliamentary rules which would make the result of the vote binding on ministers.
They successfully used them previously to force the publication of the Government’s 58 Brexit impact papers.
The party will call for all papers, correspondence and advice between senior officials and special advisers on decisions relating to the Windrush generation to be handed to the Home Affairs Select committee.
The Windrush scandal has seen people of Caribbean descent facing deportation and the loss of access to public services despite living and working in the UK for decades.
The incident has also heaped pressure on the Home Office over its use of "hostile environment policy" and sparked events which led to the resignation of Amber Rudd as Home Secretary yesterday.
Labour's demand aims to see all relevant documents - including emails and text messages - dated from May 11 2010 until the start of this month given to MPs for scrutiny.
The Opposition say their motion would include a request for information behind deportations, detentions and refusal of re-entry, the setting of deportation and removal targets and their effects on people’s lives.
They add that the revelations would shine a light on what ministers, including Theresa May, knew with regard to the impact of the “hostile environment policy”.
Ms Abbott said: “With the resignation of Amber Rudd, Theresa May has lost her human shield and must now fully account for the policies she created and drove through from the Home Office into Downing Street.
“The Windrush Scandal has exposed something rotten at the heart of Government. We need to know what has led to this situation.
“If the Prime Minister is too weak to be accountable, Labour will have to force her to be accountable. We have had enough of Ministers trying to dodge questions and blame others, we need full disclosure of all the facts.”
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