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SCRUNTINY: Sajid Javid

THE LABOUR party has slammed the Home secretary for allegedly "buying the silence" of those affected by the Windrush scandal.

Diane Abbott said under Sajid Javid, the department is making people affected by the immigration catastrophe sign non-disclosure agreements in order to get immediate payments.

Ms Abbott said: "The Windrush generation has been failed time and time again by this Government. The Home Secretary promised to 'do right' by our fellow citizens from the Windrush generation yet it appears he has gone back on his word.

"The Home Office must not attempt to buy the silence of citizens who have been so shockingly wronged and had their rights so gravely infringed in return for compensation that they are entitled to."

Former Cabinet Minister Yvette Cooper echoed Abbott's sentiments, saying: “Using NDAs to hide things that have gone wrong cannot be justified,” while Labour MP and Windrush campaigner David Lammy, called the tactic “totally unacceptable”.

Last week, The Independent reported others had also been put in similar positions in return for speedy payments.

This comes after the Government was accused of "dragging its feet" over the compensation scheme for the Windrush generation, as victims who are detained, threatened with deportation and denied the right to medical care and benefits are awaiting to see if they will receive compensation with no confirmation date in mind.

In response to the accusations, a spokesperson for the Home Office said: "The case referred to in the letter to the HASC predated the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

"There will be no requirement or need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for any individual who receives compensation through this scheme, and the Home Secretary has already made clear his intention to take this different approach for the Windrush generation."

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