Debates between Seema Malhotra and Diane Abbott during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Wed 2nd May 2018

Windrush

Debate between Seema Malhotra and Diane Abbott
Wednesday 2nd May 2018

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Seema Malhotra Portrait Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op)
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My right hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. Is she as surprised as I am that, despite the national debate over the last two weeks, when my office called the Home Office MP helpline yesterday to support a Windrush-affected constituent and inquire about the process, we were told that the helpline staff had been given no guidance on citizenship applications? My constituent, who has to prove that he has been here since 1965 with two forms of ID for every year, is in despair.

Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Abbott
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It does not seem that we have moved away from the Windrush situation altogether if somebody is being asked for two pieces of documentation for every year they have been here, as that was the problem for the Windrush generation—excessively rigid demands for documentation and no proper guidance.