Minister for Migration and Citizenship (): I am delighted to announce
Reverend Clive Foster MBE as our new and first Windrush
Commissioner.
This appointment delivers on a Manifesto commitment and follows
on from the Home Secretary's statement to the House in October
last year. It is a pivotal step in resetting the government's
response to the Home Office Windrush scandal and delivering the
change that the victims of this scandal want and deserve to see.
As Windrush Commissioner, he will play a crucial role, providing
independent oversight of the government's ongoing commitment to
address the impact of the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure
that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts
to deliver justice. The commissioner will engage with victims,
communities and stakeholder organisations, and provide advice
directly to ministers, to help ensure that lasting, tangible,
change is delivered and the lessons of the past are truly
learned. He will also work alongside the Windrush Unit, which was
re-established last year, to oversee the department's response to
the scandal and embed permanent cultural change.
Reverend Foster is a hugely experienced and capable individual
and well-placed to represent the interests of the Windrush
communities. With personal connections to the Windrush generation
through his parents who migrated from Jamaica, Reverend Foster
brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the
role. He is the founder of Nottingham Windrush Support Forum and
the Vice Chair of the Windrush National Organisation and is a
senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham – demonstrating
valuable experience in community leadership and social justice.
We look forward to working closely with Reverend Foster as we
continue our vital work to re-build trust and ensure that dignity
is restored and justice delivered to Windrush generations as
rightfully deserved, that those who have suffered receive the
status and compensation they deserve, and that an injustice such
as this can never happen again.
