Mark Windrush Day by giving the right to remain to all NHS workers, Lib Dems say

The Liberal Democrats are marking Windrush Day by renewing calls on the Government to give all NHS and social care workers who have worked in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic indefinite leave to remain.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine urged Ministers to make clear by backing these calls that "those who have put their lives at risk for our country are welcome to live in it."

The Royal College of Nursing are also calling for reform, citing statistics from the Nursery and Midwifery Council which shows more than 10% of the total registered nursing workforce in the UK come from overseas.

The 2011 census showed the 3.4% of the Wiltshire population were Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME), some of whom may be personally or have families and friends working within the local NHS and social care sectors said Lib Dem spokesperson for South West Wiltshire, Ellen Nicholson.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

"Thousands of the doctors, nurses and support staff who work in our NHS - the people on the frontline of this crisis - are foreign nationals.

"However, as the Windrush scandal demonstrated so appallingly, people who should have every right to live in the UK have been wrongfully denied healthcare, made homeless, detained and even deported.

"The Government owes it to the victims of the Windrush Scandal to bring an end to the toxic Hostile Environment.

"The Prime Minister must make clear that those who have put their lives at risk for our country are welcome to live in it. This is not just a gesture - it is our moral responsibility."

The Liberal Democrats have previously secured cross-party support from Labour, Conservative, SNP, Green and Alliance MPs for their campaign to grant indefinite leave to remain to foreign nationals working in the NHS during the coronavirus crisis.

For a copy of the letter with the full list of signatories see here