In today’s show I speak with Maurice Wren, the chief executive at Refugee Council UK. It’s an intriguing debate delving into thoughts on integration, understanding and the importance of refugee-led work.


Content clarification

Windrush Scandal
In 2018, many British citizens of Caribbean origin lost their homes or jobs, were denied access to care or re-entry into the UK. Some were threatened with deportation and almost a hundred were deported. These events became known as the Windrush scandal.
From 1948 to 1973, British subjects born in the colonies could move into the UK without a special permit or documentation, nor were they given any such documentation upon arrival. Come 2018, the same people could not prove they were British citizens with a right to live and work in Britain and use public services.
The scandal showed that non-white Brits could be treated as second-class citizens. The then home secretary, Amber Rudd, was forced to resign as a result.

Hostile environment
A policy created by Theresa May during her time at the Home Office (approximately 2012-2016) and by and large continued by her successors. The policy aim was to create a hostile environment for illegal immigrants. In practice, as in the case of the Windrush Scandal, it created a hostile environment for ethnic minorities and all immigrants.