Theresa May caught in row over Britain’s treatment of Windrush migrants as No10 snubs Caribbean talks

THERESA May was last night caught up in growing anger over Britain’s treatment of Windrush migrants.

Rule changes mean thousands who arrived from the Caribbean with their parents in 1948 now face being deported.

But it emerged Downing Street snubbed a request for a formal diplomatic discussion on the scandal.

Representatives of 12 Caribbean countries who asked to meet the PM during this week’s meeting of Commonwealth heads were told it would not be on the agenda.

Barbados high commissioner Guy Hewitt confirmed: “We did request a meeting and regrettably they advised us it is not possible.”

British officials later insisted there would be “a number of opportunities” for talks.

Campaigner David Lammy said the snub “brings great shame on our country”. But the Labour MP did celebrate a petition calling for an immediate amnesty gaining the 100,000 names needed to trigger a Commons debate.

The migrants — named after the Empire Windrush ship which first brought families over to help rebuild post-war Britain — fell victim to rule changes in 2012 aimed at stopping overstaying. Their legal status changed overnight despite living, working and paying tax in Britain for decades.

They were told they needed evidence including passports to continue working or getting NHS treatment. But most arrived on parents’ passports and never applied for travel documents.

Mechanic Albert Thompson, 63, was first evicted and then quoted £54,000 to pay for radiotherapy to tackle cancer. He said: “They’re asking me to prove I’m British. I feel abandoned.”

The Home Office was unavailable for comment.