PMQs: SNP MP calls on PM to intervene as Windrush constituent faces “impossible task”

– “The UK government continues to fail the Windrush generation.” –

An SNP MP has called on the Prime Minister to personally intervene in the case of her Windrush constituent, facing “an impossible task” as the UK government struggles to rectify the scandal.

Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West, said her constituent has been told they are ineligible for a benefit as they have made insufficient National Insurance contributions – despite being unable to work as a direct result of the Windrush scandal.

To qualify for Employment Support Allowance (ESA), a person must have made sufficient National Insurance contributions over the previous two years.

However, Monaghan’s constituent has not been allowed to work since the Home Office told them that they were not a British citizen in 2015.

Monaghan’s constituent, who had lived and worked in the UK for most of their life, only received their British passport once the Windrush scandal came to light earlier this year.

The Immigration Minister, Caroline Nokes MP, told Monaghan on 4 September that they intended the Department for Work and Pensions to regard “somebody as eligible if they had an appointment with the Windrush taskforce,” a message which Monaghan has said “clearly has not been passed down.”

Commenting, Carol Monaghan MP said:

“The UK government continues to fail the Windrush generation. The Prime Minister should personally intervene in this case as, like the Windrush scandal itself, there will be many in the same situation as my constituent.

“When my constituent tried to sign on for ESA recently, he was told he was ineligible as he had not made enough National Insurance contributions over the last two years – an impossible task as he has not been allowed to work since the Home Office told him he was not a British citizen in 2015.

“If, as the Immigration Minister told me last week, ‘the DWP regard somebody as eligible if they had an appointment with the Windrush taskforce’, this message clearly has not been passed down.

“The UK government cannot expect the third sector to pick up the pieces of the mess created by their hostile environment policies – this must lie at the door of the Prime Minister and her legacy as Home Secretary.”