The Windrush commissioner has warned of a “hurry for justice” as more victims of the scandal die without redress, while stakeholders call for a public inquiry and legislative changes amid fears that a Reform government could stall progress toward justice.

Speaking on the sidelines of a people’s inquiry symposium for those affected by the Windrush scandal, Rev Clive Foster said action was needed “now” to deliver justice for those British residents whose lives were upended after being wrongly classified as illegal immigrants.

“Whether the political landscape as we see it or not, I think the duration is long enough and that of itself is the motivation that we should be moving forward for justice,” said Foster, a pastor from Nottingham whose parents came to the UK from Jamaica in 1959, and who was appointed to oversee the government’s response to the scandal.

“We are sadly losing many of that generation who suffered and time is not on our side,” he added. “I am a man in a hurry for justice.”

The second people’s inquiry symposium, held in north London on Saturday, brought together survivors, campaigners and advocates intent on establishing pathways to justice with victims’ voices at the forefront, while continuing to press the government to launch a statutory public inquiry into the scandal.

The Windrush scandal was brought to public attention through investigative reporting by the Guardian in 2017, which revealed thousands of legal UK residents to be mistakenly labelled as immigration offenders. Government schemes providing immigration status and compensation to those affected have since granted 17,000 people documentation and 2,600 of 8,800 claims have received compensation payments, as of July 2024.

Six months into Foster’s appointment, the Labour party, which has pledged to improve the government’s response, has adopted many of his recommendations for reforming the Windrush compensation scheme. But, years into the scandal, many are still struggling to navigate the process described as inefficient, bureaucratic, and retraumatising.

Among those still affected is Deborah, who has been supporting her brother in Barbados for decades since he has been unable to return to the UK after arriving as a Commonwealth citizen in 1966. “He didn’t leave with the intention of not coming back,” said Deborah, who asked to withhold her surname.

Last year she was instructed by the Home Office to apply for the Windrush scheme, unknown to the family as her mother did not arrive on the Windrush boat, which carried thousands from the Caribbean to the UK in 1948 and has become shorthand for the scandal. Deborah said the claim was rejected, not having known the extent of evidence needed. In recent months, she travelled Barbados to gather documents in support of her brother’s case.

“There’s so much negligence,” said Deborah. “There’s got to be a public inquiry and the voices of the victims heard and listened to and tangible things, not just apologies.”

While some expressed concern on Saturday over a shift in Labour’s immigration policy they fear will create the “next generation of Windrush”, others such as campaigner Garrick Prayogg said the only solution is legislative change.

“If we don’t get legislation before the next general election in place, what will happen if Reform come in?” said Prayogg, calling for changes to the existing hostile environment policy that led to the scandal.

While the founder of Windrush Day, Patrick Vernon, doesn’t see the current Labour government moving toward easing existing immigration policy, he said there are other changes as well as legislation, including a public inquiry and moving the compensation scheme from the Home Office.

“Why is it black people are given less money, no legal aid, less support?” said Vernon, who cited the Post Office and infected blood scandals. “Why are we being treated differently?”

He added: “You get a better service with Ryanair than the Home Office.”