A Batman and Outlander star heading a brand new marketing campaign to safe justice for Windrush victims has delivered a stark message to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer – type this mess out for good.
Colin McFarlane, who performed Commissioner Gillian Loeb within the Dark Knight sequence, mentioned he is appalled that only a tiny fraction of these 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 ready for individuals to cross away in order that they’d must pay much less cash. More than 40 persons are recognized to have died whereas ready for compensation, whereas lower than 14% of these eligible receiving any funds.
Mr McFarlane informed 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.”
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Justice4Windrush)
He known as on Mr Starmer and Mr Sunak to decide to taking the Windrush Compensation Scheme away from the Home Office and pledge full compensation to Windrush victims. He mentioned: “It’s about who we are as a country. There are very proud people who have been humiliated and are traumatised.
“We want for each main events to take this ahead and put it of their pre-election manifestos. We wish to see it in writing, and if they arrive to energy we wish to maintain them to it.” He added: “Both Labour and the Conservatives have been responsible over time of making an attempt to cut back the variety of black and brown individuals residing and dealing within the nation. Times have moved on, however it is time to put proper 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 marketing campaign was launched, and Mr McFarlane mentioned he is turned down work with a view to dedicate time to it. He’s enlisted the assistance of a various vary 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 model of her monitor Why to assist the marketing campaign. She has co-signed an open letter to Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer making a sequence of calls for to hurry up compensation.
Mr McFarlane first crossed paths with the singer when he booked her and bandmate Dave Stewart to carry out at Loughborough University when he was a pupil. But after The Mirror ran an interview together with his dad in regards to the Windrush scandal, Ms Lennox reached out to his agent.
“She asked how she could help,” the actor mentioned. “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 historical past and shames this nation. Britain’s Windrush era have to be seen, heard, and healed. This scandal has been many years within the making.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government stays completely dedicated to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal and ensuring these affected obtain the compensation they rightly deserve. We have paid greater than £75 million in compensation and we proceed to make enhancements so individuals obtain the utmost award as rapidly as potential, while offering intensive assist to assist individuals entry 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.”