Examining Media’s Discursive Constructions of the Windrush Scandal and Affected Commonwealth Citizens

From 2017 onwards it emerged that 1000’s of older racialised Commonwealth Citizens had been mis-categorised as ’illegal immigrants’ under ever-tightening immigration laws. This ‘illegal’ status caused holistic harm to the lives of those affected and led to detention and deportation for some. First reported by the Guardian, newspapers were instrumental in exposing what became known as the ‘Windrush Scandal’. Due to media and political pressure the ‘Windrush Scandal Review’ was commissioned and later published in 2020, providing an explanation of the factors leading to the Scandal. With the causes confirmed, this research is interested in how the ‘Windrush Scandal’ was constructed and those affected positioned in the wake of the report.

A Foucauldian informed discourse analysis was performed on articles published between 2020 and 2023. Four main discourses were interpreted from the analysis concerning Culpability, Injustice, Destruction and lack of Resolution. Those affected were positioned in both passive and active roles with an emphasis on positive attributes implying societal acceptance. Overall, the ‘Windrush Scandal’ was presented as a limited event, separate from wider questions of racism and immigration. News coverage indicated that the ‘Windrush Scandal’ was not resolved, causing ongoing distress and further undermining the trust in authority of those affected. The implications of these factors for continued social inequality are discussed and recommendations for further support are made. It is hoped that this research questions taken for granted assumptions; encouraging further enquiry into the impact and further resistance to the contributing factors associated with the ‘Windrush Scandal’.