Agenda item

8.24pm – Councillor Sharon Holder moved, seconded by Councillor Mercy Umeh, the special motion in their names:

“The council notes that 22 June 2023 marked the 75^th anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush in the UK, a day celebrated locally by a special event on Shepherd’s Bush Green.

This council gives thanks:

·       To the Windrush Generation, who came from the Caribbean to help Britain rebuild following the Second World War.

·       To the many thousands of Caribbean men and women who had previously volunteered to serve in the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.

·       To those of the Windrush Generation who played an invaluable role serving in the newly established NHS.

·       To those of the Windrush Generation who contributed immensely to modern British culture, bringing and enhancing a wide range of music—including Jazz, Soca and Reggae—as well as dance and other arts.

·       To the many members of the Windrush Generation who made their homes in Hammersmith and Fulham, contributing greatly to the area’s economy, public services and culture.

The council further commends the extraordinary resilience of this pioneering generation, who faced discrimination not only when they first arrived but also up to and through the period marked by the Government’s pernicious Hostile Environment Policy, which led to the injustice of the Windrush Scandal.

The council calls on the Government to move urgently to reform the Windrush Compensation Scheme – making it transparent, fair and fit for purpose – and ensure that British people of colour will never again be victimised by the very authorities that are meant to protect and serve them.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Holder, Mercy Umeh, Lang, Chevoppe-Verdier, Patel, and Antoniades (for the Administration) – and Councillors Lloyd-Harris and Borland (for the Opposition).

Councillor Holder made a speech winding up the debate before the motion was put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.05pm – RESOLVED

The council notes that 22 June 2023 marked the 75^th anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush in the UK, a day celebrated locally by a special event on Shepherd’s Bush Green.

This council gives thanks:

·       To the Windrush Generation, who came from the Caribbean to help Britain rebuild following the Second World War.

·       To the many thousands of Caribbean men and women who had previously volunteered to serve in the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.

·       To those of the Windrush Generation who played an invaluable role serving in the newly established NHS.

·       To those of the Windrush Generation who contributed immensely to modern British culture, bringing and enhancing a wide range of music—including Jazz, Soca and Reggae—as well as dance and other arts.

·       To the many members of the Windrush Generation who made their homes in Hammersmith and Fulham, contributing greatly to the area’s economy, public services and culture.

The council further commends the extraordinary resilience of this pioneering generation, who faced discrimination not only when they first arrived but also up to and through the period marked by the Government’s pernicious Hostile Environment Policy, which led to the injustice of the Windrush Scandal.

The council calls on the Government to move urgently to reform the Windrush Compensation Scheme – making it transparent, fair and fit for purpose – and ensure that British people of colour will never again be victimised by the very authorities that are meant to protect and serve them.

NOTE: The Mayor suspended the meeting for a comfort break.