George Lee, a Windrush scandal victim, has returned to the UK after 28 years of exile in Poland. The Home Office paid for his flight and acknowledged his right to return belatedly.
Upon arriving in London, Lee expressed culture shock, noting changes to taxis, buses, and the Oyster card system. He described homelessness as 'horrible – much worse than in Poland' and observed that people looked 'stressed' and 'tired.' He said the quality of life seemed better in Poland.
Lee first contacted authorities in summer 2018 but received little help. It was only after contacting campaigner Bishop Desmond Jaddoo in November that documentary evidence was gathered, including school records and birth certificates. Jaddoo called the case straightforward and urged others stuck abroad to come forward.
Lee moved to London from Jamaica in 1961 at age eight. He worked as a financial analyst, ran a hair salon, then became a teacher. He went to Poland for a teaching job but overstayed his indefinite leave to remain by more than two years, inadvertently breaching immigration rules.
He is now staying in a Birmingham hotel and is relieved to be back but struggles with dislocation after so long.
