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Here is @ameliagentleman’s article today with that news.
The headline doesn’t identify the source of this free legal advice, but it’s rapidly established that the source is *not* @ukhomeoffice, the only party actually responsible for this. [2/21] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/22/windrush-victims-to-be-offered-free-legal-advice-amid-low-compensation-take-up?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...
The headline doesn’t identify the source of this free legal advice, but it’s rapidly established that the source is *not* @ukhomeoffice, the only party actually responsible for this. [2/21] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/22/windrush-victims-to-be-offered-free-legal-advice-amid-low-compensation-take-up?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...
This venture is not even co-funded, supported, or endorsed by @ukhomeoffice.
This has fallen to @JCWI_UK and countless others ( @JacquiMckenzie6) in the pro-Bono legal sphere b/c HO has failed consistently and comprehensively in its duties to Windrush victims. [3/21]
This has fallen to @JCWI_UK and countless others ( @JacquiMckenzie6) in the pro-Bono legal sphere b/c HO has failed consistently and comprehensively in its duties to Windrush victims. [3/21]
Claimants have no access to free *legal* support, because the HO insists that legal assistance isn’t required to make an application. (It is wrong about this, and much, much more).
At best, the HO has offered the weaker brew of “application support”. [4/21]
At best, the HO has offered the weaker brew of “application support”. [4/21]
The contract for “application support” was originally given to @CitizensAdvice.
CAB is a respected organisation, well established in the field of grassroots govt application support-type work. Their bread and butter work covers council and housing issues - similar. [5/21]
CAB is a respected organisation, well established in the field of grassroots govt application support-type work. Their bread and butter work covers council and housing issues - similar. [5/21]
It’s not clear how well CAB did with this brief - the (WILDLY inadequate - see PS 1) monthly WCS stats only give figures for referrals from the advice line. The breakdown of work done is not known. Nevertheless, on the face of it at least, CAB is a choice that makes sense. [6/21]
That “application support” contract was awarded to an agency called We Are Digital in December. @we_aredigital has been running the show since Q1 this year.
This is We Are Digital. https://www.we-are-digital.co.uk"> https://www.we-are-digital.co.uk [7/21]
This is We Are Digital. https://www.we-are-digital.co.uk"> https://www.we-are-digital.co.uk [7/21]
It is a self-described institutional training provider, listing HM Gov prominently amongst its clients.
If anyone can explain what the role of an agency like that could be in offering application support to individuals on a compensation scheme claim form, we’re listening.[8/21]
If anyone can explain what the role of an agency like that could be in offering application support to individuals on a compensation scheme claim form, we’re listening.[8/21]
Then there’s this, which is quite unusual in any context, but especially so for a company that is contracted by government to provide public services *cough* @GoodLawProject *cough*. [9/21]
![Then there’s this, which is quite unusual in any context, but especially so for a company that is contracted by government to provide public services *cough* @GoodLawProject *cough*. [9/21]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzmXn_SWYAUcsFP.jpg "Then there’s this, which is quite unusual in any context, but especially so for a company that is contracted by government to provide public services *cough* @GoodLawProject *cough*. [9/21]")
The Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register exists to show who holds the beneficial interest, or has the ability to control a company.
It is very unusual (=/= illegal) to have no PSC, b/c it means there is no one who meets ANY of quite a broad set of criteria. [10/21]
It is very unusual (=/= illegal) to have no PSC, b/c it means there is no one who meets ANY of quite a broad set of criteria. [10/21]
In this case, it means there is no one at We Are Digital who: owns 25% or more of its shares/voting rights; has the right to appoint/ remove directors; or is able to influence or control shareholders or directors (including through a trust or body w/o a legal personality).[11/21]
That is rare, *particularly* in this sector.
It makes it hard to see who owns and controls this entity, to which govt has given a contract to perform a vital **specialised** function. Who is accountable?
This shouldn’t be how governments outsource. [12/21]
It makes it hard to see who owns and controls this entity, to which govt has given a contract to perform a vital **specialised** function. Who is accountable?
This shouldn’t be how governments outsource. [12/21]
But back to the original point. @ameliagentleman rightly states that take-up of the Scheme has been low b/c of the lack of free legal support.
But as @Nw5dominator (a claimant and Windrush descendant themself) notes, that’s not the main reason people are staying away. [13/21]
But as @Nw5dominator (a claimant and Windrush descendant themself) notes, that’s not the main reason people are staying away. [13/21]
We hear this from Windrushers all the time. While the complete lack of independent legal assistance IS a big problem, so too is the fact that people just don’t *trust* @ukhomeoffice.
As one claimant told us, you wouldn’t ask your mugger to sentence himself, would you? [14/21]
As one claimant told us, you wouldn’t ask your mugger to sentence himself, would you? [14/21]
There is no principled solution to this other than to take the Windrush Compensation Scheme away from @ukhomeoffice, the very agency that systematically destroyed the lives of Windrushers and their descendants. (But in the interim, 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏🏽" title="Applaus-Zeichen (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen (mittlerer Hautton)"> to this @JCWI_UK effort!) [15/21]
PS 1: About that monthly WCS data. If you’ve been here a while you’ll know this is a bugbear. Poorly collected and defined stats are worse than none at all, and we’ve had our suspicions about the reliability of headline numbers trotted out by @pritipatel/ @MatthewRycroft1 [16/21]
So we’re guardedly excited about this, which was announced by @NAOorguk some time ago, and appears to be underway: [17/21] https://www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/investigation-into-the-windrush-compensation-scheme/">https://www.nao.org.uk/work-in-p...
Inject it straight into my brain stem. [18/21]
![Inject it straight into my brain stem. [18/21]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzmXqg9XsAomub9.jpg "Inject it straight into my brain stem. [18/21]")
PS 2: On the subject of accountability and appointing the right, qualified people and agencies to do time-sensitive, critical work, @ukhomeoffice has also finally publicised the name of the new Independent Advisor on the Scheme. [19/21] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/martin-levermore-appointed-as-new-windrush-independent-adviser">https://www.gov.uk/governmen...
We don’t know anything about Mr Levermore, except that he was picked from a crowded field of people with specific and relevant financial, audit, Windrush, and outreach work expertise.
He doesn’t appear outwardly to have any of that. [20/21]
He doesn’t appear outwardly to have any of that. [20/21]
The last person to hold this role designed the Scheme. He was criticised, including heavily by us, for getting things wrong, but in the context of being a QC who literally wrote the rules. That’s the bar.
Just gonna leave this here. [21/21] https://twitter.com/jacquimckenzie6/status/1375032842934161418">https://twitter.com/jacquimck...
Just gonna leave this here. [21/21] https://twitter.com/jacquimckenzie6/status/1375032842934161418">https://twitter.com/jacquimck...
