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The Windrush Betrayal

Exposing the Hostile Environment

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The Windrush Betrayal

By: Amelia Gentleman
Narrated by: Amelia Gentleman
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About this listen

A NEW STATESMAN AND SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING
LONGLISTED FOR THE
BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE
A searing portrait of Britain's hostile environment by the journalist behind the Windrush exposé.
'A timely reminder of what truly great journalists can achieve.'
DAVID OLUSOGA

'[Gentleman's] reporting proves why an independent press is so vital.'
RENI EDDO-LODGE

'A book that keeps you informed and makes you angry.'
GARY YOUNGE

'It is impossible to overstate the importance of this heartbreaking book.'
JAMES O'BRIEN

How do you pack for a one-way journey back to a country you left when you were eleven and have not visited for fifty years?
Amelia Gentleman's exposé of the Windrush scandal - where thousands of British citizens were wrongly classified as illegal immigrants with life-shattering consequences - shocked the nation and led to the resignation of Amber Rudd as Home Secretary. Here, Gentleman tells the full story for the first time.
'Essential . . . a damning indictment.'
SIR LENNY HENRY
'Gentleman boldly chronicles the devastating reality of a scandal that illegalised, imbruted and abandoned British citizens.'
DAVID LAMMY MP
'I'm thankful for the truth and hope [. . .] in Amelia Gentleman's The Windrush Betrayal.'
ALI SMITH

'A devastating account.'
CLAIRE TOMALIN

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Amelia Gentleman (P)2019 Guardian Faber Publishing
Emigration & Immigration Europe Great Britain Law Politics & Government Social Sciences United States World England Inspiring United Kingdom Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant
Amelia has managed to walk the fine line between very candid professional journalism and the raw emotions of the personal testimonies of the victims.
If you can read this and not be sad, angry or both, then you are, how shall I put it...interesting.

Brilliant investigative journalism at its best.

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This books content is unbelievable true that I almost had to pinch myself.

This outrageous behaviour by the then government is deplorable, it is incomprehensible that the government treated these people who had been the backbone of Britain like superfluous hair.

Amélia Gentlemen has more than proved herself in this great piece of investigative journalism, her passion for these people is palpable in the prose.

Thank you for writing this book, I hope that many will read or listen to it.

Two books mentions and quoted by the author are Black and British by David Olusoga and Small island by Andrea Levy. If you have not read them yet I thoroughly recommend them both.

Outstanding journalism

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I found this book moving and frustrating. I'm glad I've been able to gain a greater understanding of the subject matter and am devastated for all affected

Heartbreaking

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This was a very hard listen, and it was very difficult not to get angry at the heart breaking stories of people who were mistreated.

Gentlemen goes through in great detail and doesn't shy away from addressing the difficulties maintaining impartiality and also being married to a cabinet minister. An essential guide to this shameful episode.

A very hard but essential listen

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A great overview of the Windrush Scandal from the guardian journalist who broke the story. With emotive case studies of the people most effected including a 50 year old who's surprise birthday party saw him unable to reenter the country.

The book shines a light on how bureaucracy can lead to a Kafkaesque nightmare where the marginalised cannot afford a solicitor to guide them through what could have been a simple application. But with hostility from frontline staff, and inability to speak to anyone with discretion to act (a case worker being deemed mythical) the vulnerable are the most hit.

There are elements of journalistic self aggrandisement, but with a story like this you can understand. The audio occasionally becomes quite echoing towards the end almost as though the narrator is leaning away from the microphone.

An excellent way to find out more about the Windrush scandal and the driving factors.

Revealing look into how callous bureaucracy can be

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