17 January 2024 , 07:02
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A Batman and Outlander star heading a new campaign to secure justice for Windrush victims has delivered a stark message to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer - sort this mess out for good.
Colin McFarlane, who played Commissioner Gillian Loeb in the Dark Knight series, said he's appalled that just a tiny fraction of those impacted by the scandal have been awarded any compensation. The actor, 62, has joined forces with music icon Annie Lennox, who contacted him out the blue after seeing an interview with Mr McFarlane's dad Sidney in The Mirror.
Ms Lennox was shocked after former RAF serviceman Sidney accused the Home Office of waiting for people to pass away so they'd have to pay less money. More than 40 people are known to have died while waiting for compensation, while less than 14% of those eligible receiving any payments.
Mr McFarlane told The Mirror: "This country is brilliant at coming together when they know the truth, but when the story has been swept under the carpet or you're made to believe it's been solved, you need to get the story out there."
Mr McFarlane said he's turned down work so he can concentrate on the campaign (Justice4Windrush)He called on Mr Starmer and Mr Sunak to commit to taking the Windrush Compensation Scheme away from the Home Office and pledge full compensation to Windrush victims. He said: "It's about who we are as a country. There are very proud people who have been humiliated and are traumatised.
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"We need for both major parties to take this forward and put it in their pre-election manifestos. We want to see it in writing, and if they come to power we want to hold them to it." He added: "Both Labour and the Conservatives have been guilty over the years of trying to reduce the number of black and brown people living and working in the country. Times have moved on, but it's time to put right the wrongs.
"It's not a Windrush scandal, because that implies that the people who came to this country when they were needed have done something wrong. It's a Home Office scandal."
This week the Justice4Windrush campaign was launched, and Mr McFarlane said he's turned down work in order to devote time to it. He's enlisted the help of a diverse range of celebrities and campaigners, from rapper AJ Tracey, TV presenter Jay Blades, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and actors Eddie Marsan and Adrian Lester.
Former Eurythmics star Ms Lennox has re-recorded a version of her track Why to support the campaign. She has co-signed an open letter to Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer making a series of demands to speed up compensation.
Mr McFarlane first crossed paths with the singer when he booked her and bandmate Dave Stewart to perform at Loughborough University when he was a student. But after The Mirror ran an interview with his dad about the Windrush scandal, Ms Lennox reached out to his agent.
"She asked how she could help," the actor said. "We set up a Zoom meeting when I was in Lincoln with my father and she was so lovely with him." Their joint letter states: "The Windrush generation is running out of time. Already more than 40 people have died waiting to receive compensation.
"This injustice is a stain on our history and shames this country. Britain’s Windrush generation must be seen, heard, and healed. This scandal has been decades in the making."
A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government remains absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal and making sure those affected receive the compensation they rightly deserve. We have paid more than £75 million in compensation and we continue to make improvements so people receive the maximum award as quickly as possible, whilst providing extensive support to help people access and apply to the compensation scheme.
"The scheme will remain open as long as it is needed, so no-one is prevented from making a claim. We are continuing to reach out to, and engage with, communities across the UK to encourage more people to come forward, ensuring they have correct information on whether they may be eligible and necessary guidance to support their application."