​Newly appointed Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp used the Windrush National Organisation’s annual conference to set out a series of significant reforms to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, alongside a personal pledge to rebuild trust with those affected by the scandal.

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Speaking at the conference — which Prodigal Sun Radio attended — Tapp said it was “an honour” to take on responsibility for the Home Office’s Windrush work, adding that the duty to “help right those wrongs” was one he carried with deep personal weight. His approach to politics, he told the room, was rooted in three principles: “listen, learn and deliver.”

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Reflecting on the 77 years since the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury, Tapp described the generation’s legacy as “a profound example of contribution, culture and resilience”.

 

He referred to a poem shared earlier in the day and said the Windrush pioneers “brought more than labour — they brought their souls,” a sentiment he said stayed with him earlier in the week as he welcomed the Windrush: Untold Stories exhibition into the Home Office.

 

Standing with storytellers inside the same building where the scandal first unfolded, he said, was “profoundly moving”. “If you do not own a mistake, you cannot repair it or deliver justice,” he added.

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Tapp also emphasised his close working relationship with the Windrush Commissioner, Reverend Clive Foster MBE, noting that their collaboration began immediately after the recent government reshuffle.

 

He said the Commissioner’s leadership would be essential in driving cultural change throughout the Home Office and ensuring the long-awaited implementation of Wendy Williams’ Lessons Learned Review, which is due to report shortly. Officials from the department were present at the conference “to listen”, he stressed, urging attendees to continue sharing their experiences to help shape policy.

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Several of the minister’s announcements drew nods from the audience, and at moments, audible relief.

 

After years of sustained campaigning by survivors and advocates, Tapp confirmed that occupational and personal pension losses will now be included in the Windrush Compensation Scheme — a longstanding demand that many argued was essential to restoring fairness.

 

Employment awards will also be updated to reflect wage inflation and the reality that many people found it difficult to return to work after years of disruption. The immigration fees category, he said, will be extended to cover all historic applications made during periods of uncertainty, closing gaps that have affected people both in the UK and overseas.

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Addressing the painful number of claimants who have died before receiving compensation — a figure that now stands at sixty-six — Tapp announced a new advanced payment option that will allow claimants to access up to 75 per cent of their award while reviews or assessments are ongoing.

 

A wider priority system will also be introduced, expanding beyond those with serious illnesses to include people aged 75 and over. Crucially, he confirmed that these reforms will be applied retrospectively.

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The minister also drew attention to the £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Scheme, which has begun processing its first claims, alongside continued funding for grassroots groups through the Community Engagement Fund.

 

More than 95 engagement events have taken place over the past year, and Tapp said outreach efforts will now expand across Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland to reach those who have not yet applied for documentation or compensation.

 

He acknowledged that significant challenges remain, including complex forms, misinformation and persistent barriers facing people overseas. “There is more to do — much more,” he said.

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Closing his speech, Tapp described the government’s commitment to righting the wrongs of the Windrush Scandal as “unshakeable”. That commitment, he said, meant ensuring early compensation wherever possible, responding constructively when concerns are raised, and celebrating the “extraordinary contribution” of the Windrush generation.

 

Ending on a lighter note, he said he looked forward to joining campaigner Ros [Griffiths] in Brixton to experience more of the area’s culture.

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Prodigal Sun Radio will continue to follow developments closely and report on whether these commitments translate into meaningful change in the months and years ahead.

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