The Reader: Deportations en masse should be axed at once

Priti Patel bullying inquiry
Priti Patel
PA
27 November 2020
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has ruled that the Home Office broke equalities law when it implemented the hostile environment anti-immigration measures. The Tories devised the policy with the deliberate aim of making the lives of migrants in the UK as intolerable as possible.  

As a result of the ruling, the Home Office is required to review its procedures when implementing the hostile environment to ensure they comply with equality legislation.  

Under Priti Patel, the Home Office has resumed mass deportations using methods which echo those used against the Windrush generation.  

It plans a mass deportation of 50 black British residents to Jamaica on December 2. If the ruling means anything, the deportations must be cancelled. If they go ahead it will be yet more proof that the racism that produced the Windrush scandal remains at the heart of Tory politics.

Sasha Simic

Editor’s reply

Dear Sasha

I understand some victims of this scandal are still fighting for compensation and meeting with   bureaucracy. To me, it all says that the trauma done to this community is still not being taken seriously enough. I disagree with you that racism is “at the heart” of any of our mainstream party politics. But I do not feel reassured that a similar scandal will not happen again as the Government pursues its own tough post-Brexit immigration policy.

Sophia Sleigh, Political Reporter

UK must be kinder to sick

Matt Hancock said we should stop soldiering on if we are unwell in the future and stay at home. I agree, however I think the reason we tend to go into work is about more than the issue of statutory sick pay. British culture is one of stoicism — illness is perceived as being weak. We need to become a more compassionate society.

Tony Howarth

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in