Thread by @WindrushLives

We live-tweeted the evidence of @MatthewRycroft1 at the @CommonsPAC, chaired by @Meg_HillierMP and feat. @YvetteCooperMP (chair of @CommonsHomeAffs) precisely 22 days ago. Mr Rycroft was giving evidence on the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Badly. [1/12]

https://twitter.com/WindrushLives/status/1303981925581889537?s=20

In the pvt sector, turning up to a board meeting this poorly briefed wld be unprofessional at least and sackable at worst. @MatthewRycroft1 and his @ukhomeoffice colleagues didn't have basic numbers (which are published) or facts, and didn't seem embarrassed about it. [2/12]

It wasn't just us, biased as we obviously are, who thought that. @Meg_HillierMP and @YvetteCooperMP wrote to the Home Office shortly after, requesting all the data and clarifications that couldn't be given at the session.

https://twitter.com/CommonsPAC/status/1310501487664132096?s=20

[3/12]

In the ~20 minutes of substantive questioning on the Comp Scheme, @MatthewRycroft1 promised to write to MH and YC at least 9 times, on each occasion having been unable to answer basic questions like "what's the average payment" or "what's the avg time taken to pay claims" [4/12]

We were pretty enraged by this, because it shows how little @ukhomeoffice cares about the Scheme; how callous it is about the amount of pain and anguish it is putting claimants through; and, very likely, how it handling claims. [5/12]

We promised you a thread, in which we were going to vent our collective spleens on the matter. But something snapped. Threads are great fun, but sometimes not enough. And we ARE British after all. So we levelled up - to a strongly worded letter. [6/12]

https://twitter.com/WindrushLives/status/1304090992300220416?s=20

We thought it would be most productive to (i) answer the questions @MatthewRycroft1 couldn't; and (ii) expand on certain issues, heading off some of the weak-brewed, half-correct bilge with which @ukhomeoffice will likely revert to @Meg_HillierMP and @YvetteCooperMP anon. [7/12]

So we have. Here it is. If this subject is of any interest to you at all, we'd ask that you read it, because some analytical effort went into this that may later be useful to you, esp if you are a claimant or solicitor. [8/12] scribd.com/document/47833…

This has been sent to @YvetteCooperMP and @Meg_HillierMP in the hope that it will assist them. It has also been sent to a Home Office representative whose email address we were able to find, in the hope that it will find its way to the desk of @MatthewRycroft1. [9/12]

If, having read this, you feel it is a worthwhile piece of criticism, we have a wee favour to ask - don't just leave it at that. Re-tweet it; send it to others whom it might help or be of interest to; forward it to your MP and anyone you know at @ukhomeoffice. [10/12]

It's worth noting that @ukhomeoffice doesn't *only* treat Windrush victims with this level of contempt; a similarly disengaged performance was given by Rycroft et al before @CommonsPAC on the issue of @pritipatel's megalomaniacal maybe-plans for asylum seekers yesterday. [11/12]

Our government is cruel, incoherent and incompetent, and doesn't care who knows it. We should remind it that we *are* watching + keeping score. Feel free to take this letter, add epithets if you like, and send it to whomever it might inconvenience. [12/12] scribd.com/document/47833…

NB: We are still fundraising for Anthony - please donate if you can.
gofundme.com/f/anthony-will…

UPDATE: @MatthewRycroft1 replied to our letter, attaching this response which had been sent to @CommonsPAC on 25 September. We hadn’t seen this, but the point is, he *did* reply. Fair cop. [14/12] scribd.com/document/47842…

He also offers written responses to our questions and the prospect of a meeting (which would be with a group of claimants, not just us). We’re in the process of mulling over a response. And will be back with a review of that reply letter later today... [15/12]