Minister Malhotra is 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.