Mr Clark was suspended following claims that he relaxed passport checks at UK borders beyond what Home Secretary Theresa May had agreed to in a trial.

MPs on the Commons Home Affairs Committee also questioned the UK Border Agency’s Chief Executive, Rob Whiteman.

He said Mr Clark dropped fingerprint checks without telling ministers, even though they had rejected such a move.

Mr Clark stepped down after the relaxation of border checks was revealed, saying his position had been made “untenable”.

But he told MPs he “did not extend or alter” the pilot scheme “in any way whatsoever” and was “meticulous” in ensuring senior staff were briefed on it.

The committee’s chairman, the Labour MP Keith Vaz, says he is “determined to get to the bottom of this serious breach of security”.

Mrs May says she authorised the relaxation of some checks on children from the European Economic Area (EEA) and some extra checks on EEA adults under “limited circumstances” at peak times – but claims Mr Clark allowed officials to go further, without ministerial approval.

But Mr Clark told MPs: “I introduced no additions to the Home Secretary’s trial, neither did I extend it or alter it in any way whatsoever.

“I was meticulous in ensuring that my top operational team and my senior port managers had complete clarity on the Home Secretary’s requirements.”

He said he “reported weekly to the Home Secretary as she had required” and insisted the trial had “delivered exactly as she had wished”.

He added: “I am no rogue officer. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Mr Clark said the pilot was “overlaid” on top of “long-standing contingency arrangements” in place since 2007, which allowed staff at ports to relax certain checks at particularly busy times.

Asked whether ministers knew about this option, he said: “I would be surprised if they did not know these policies or understand them.”

He added: “I made no connection between business as usual under these circumstances and the pilot operation.”

The 2007 guidance does not permit the relaxation of fingerprint checks – indeed, they were not introduced until after it was written – and does not allow any reduction in checks for non-EEA nationals.

The guidance does allow border staff to forgo checks on EEA passengers against the warnings index of terrorists and criminals when queues become dangerously long.

But Mr Clark told MPs he believed the warnings index was more important, so he chose to relax fingerprint checks instead without asking ministers.

He acknowledged that the Home Secretary had ruled out doing this as part of the pilot scheme, but said she had made no mention of being against it being done for health and safety reasons at busy times.

“I did it to preserve the safety of the UK, not to weaken it,” he said.

Mr Whiteman said it was “disingenuous” of Mr Clark not to give ministers the “full picture” of other policies that were in use when they were setting up the pilot.

“Ministers had been clear that they did want that check [fingerprints] to take place,” he said.

Giving his evidence after Mr Clark, Mr Whiteman said ministers were “not aware of an older policy that was being used” to justify scrapping some checks.

He said it was “disingenuous” of Mr Clark not to give ministers the “full picture” of other policies that were in use when they were setting up the pilot.

“Ministers had been clear that they did want that check [fingerprints] to take place,” he said.

Mr Whiteman said that in a meeting he had with Mr Clark, the ex-border force chief was “clear that ministers had no knowledge of health and safety provisions under which he was suspending secure ID [fingerprint checks]“.

He added: “From what I see the 2007 guidance has been stretched. It’s being used on more occasions than in really dire health and safety circumstances.”

Mrs May said last week that officials had been able to relax border checks for several years “in order to ensure flows through” arrivals, but she insisted the 2007 guidance “does not allow a decision to be made to significantly change the checks at the border”.

Mr Clark added: “Over 40 years I have built up a reputation and over two days that reputation has been destroyed and I believe that has been largely because of the contribution made by the Home Secretary.”

He said he was initially suspended and offered retirement by Mr Whiteman, with a “good package” and “a good reference”.

But after he had decided to accept, he was told the following day there had been a “change of mind”, the offer was withdrawn and there would be no package.

Mr Whiteman told MPs that retirement was discussed, but the permanent secretary at the Home Office had intervened and made clear it would not be appropriate, given that Mr Clark could face disciplinary proceedings.

Earlier, in a response to a written question from Mr Vaz, the Home Secretary revealed that the pilot applied to 28 ports and airports.

They included Heathrow, Gatwick, Calais, Coquelles, Glasgow, Harwich, Manchester Airport, Aberdeen and Cardiff.

She also disclosed that more than 10 million people entered the UK in August when the pilot scheme was operating.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said there had been a “borders fiasco” as she asked an urgent question in the Commons on the situation.

Home Office Minister Damian Green replied to the question, saying that any changes made had been to toughen up border controls.

Mrs May has announced three inquiries into what happened, the main one led by the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency, John Vine. Source: BBC.

See also:

Official statement by Rob Whiteman, UK Border Agency chief executive on the Brodie Clark border control affair

UK Border Force Chief Brodie Clark quits claiming constructive dismissal against Home Secretary

UK border force head suspended

English UK seeks apology from Home Office over ‘bogus colleges’ claim

Restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK labour market are ‘discriminatory’, says Keith Vaz MP

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Brodie Clark was suspended by the Home Secretary Theresa May last week after being accused of relaxing immigration controls beyond what she had asked for.

He now plans to lodge a claim for “constructive dismissal”, and has denied acting improperly.

Earlier, Mrs May said he must “take full responsibility for his actions”.

The home secretary allowed some checks on European travellers to be relaxed, but says Mr Clark went further in scaling back checks, without her approval.

In a statement, Mr Clark said: “I am anxious to take part in any independent inquiry into matters relating to UK Border Agency but my position at UKBA had been made untenable because of the statements made in the House of Commons by the Home Secretary Theresa May.

“Those statements are wrong and were made without the benefit of hearing my response to formal allegations.

“With the home secretary announcing and repeating her view that I am at fault, I cannot see how any process conducted by the Home Office or under its auspices can be fair and balanced.

“The home secretary suggests that I added additional measures, improperly, to the trial of our risk-based controls. I did not. Those measures have been in place since 2008/09.

“The home secretary also implies that I relaxed the controls in favour of queue management. I did not.

“Despite pressure to reduce queues, including from ministers, I can never be accused of compromising security for convenience.

“This summer saw queues of over three hours (non EU) on a regular basis at Heathrow and I never once contemplated cutting our essential controls to ease the flow.”

He said he was saddened his career should end in this way after 40 years of “dedicated service”, and regretted Mrs May had “disregarded my right to reply” for the sake of political convenience.

There would be no further comment until he appeared before the home affairs select committee, he added.

Union officials said Mr Clark – one of three UKBA officials to be suspended – had been treated with “contempt” by the home secretary.

The First Division Association’s Paul Whiteman said: “It is astonishing the home secretary [declared] him guilty before he had a chance of responding.”

Earlier, Mrs May faced questions from the home affairs committee about her involvement in a pilot scheme.

The home secretary told MPs she had not told the Cabinet of her decision to allow officials to relax checks on some European travellers arriving in the UK as the “limited” pilot was an “operational matter” which “did not in any way put border security at risk”.

She said the idea was that at busy times it was safer to carry out “intelligence-led” checks on suspicious passengers rather than mandatory checks on all passengers, including those who were “low risk”.

Labour committee member David Winnick suggested ministers should take full responsibility for a “major blunder” on their watch and asked if there was any question of Mrs May resigning – to which the home secretary responded: “No.”

Mrs May said there were other procedures which prevented people from arriving illegally in the UK – including the e-Borders programme and the identification of potential threats by UK officers overseas.

She said she would take responsibility for the authorised pilot, which she suggested had led to a 10% rise in the detection of illegal immigrants, but Mr Clark must “take full responsibility for his actions”.

Mrs May has announced there will be three inquiries, the main one led by the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency, John Vine.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the “fiasco” for the home secretary was getting worse, now her version of events has been contradicted by “her most senior official” at the UK Border Force.

“First she decided to reduce border checks then lost control of her so called ‘pilot’. Now she has lost the loyalty of one of her most senior civil servants. The home secretary clearly doesn’t know what has been happening at our borders.”

Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee which is due to question Mr Clark next week, said: “He has cast very serious doubt on evidence received this morning from the home secretary.

“It’s completely contradictory to what she said. This is a complete turnaround of events.” Source: BBC

See also:

Brodie Clark: statement in full

UK border force head suspended

UK Border Agency ‘dumped’ missing asylum seeker cases

Restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK labour market are ‘discriminatory’, says Keith Vaz MP

HOW TO FIND APPLICATION FORMS FOR A ‘YELLOW’ OR ‘BLUE’ CARD REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ON THE UK BORDER AGENCY WEBSITE

Free Movement of EU nationals explained

Health care workers needed in UK now

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Even though Abbas Khaliq was ‘untruthful’ and ‘not a credible witness’, and had failed to mention that his brother was an illegal immigrant here, the reluctant judges said he had broken no rules.

So despite being caught red-handed on arrival from Pakistan at Gatwick airport, he is welcome to stay here.

It emerged during the case that since a British college had given Khaliq the go-ahead to study in the UK, and there was no physical evidence he had lied while obtaining his student visa in Pakistan, the immigration officer who caught him out at Gatwick had no powers to ban him from entry.

Embarrassingly, while the immigration judges said they had ‘no enthusiasm’ for allowing the bogus student to stay, they claimed they had no choice – because of the rules set by the very body established to keep illegal immigrants out, the UK Border agency.

The judges said in their ruling: ‘The UK Border Agency’s decision to allow colleges to assess whether students should be admitted, and to remove from immigration Officers the power to reach any view independent of the colleges – most of which have a clear financial motive to admit as many students as possible – forces us to the conclusion we have reached.’

Khaliq had flown into Britain last year to start a Higher National Diploma course in Business Management at the Leeds Professional College – the organisation which had who had sponsored his successful visa application.

But immigration officials at Gatwick soon discovered he spoke no English, despite finding a forged certificate in his bag from the Anglophile English Learning Centre in Karachi giving him an A grade.

Brazen Khaliq admitted buying the certificate – and that he knew nothing about the course he was due to take in England, and had paid someone else to choose it for him.

Further enquiries swiftly revealed that his brother was an overstayer in the UK, a clearly relevant fact which he had failed to mention.

The Leeds Professional College said they provided intensive English language training – but they would have a problem educating someone such as Khaliq who had virtually no English.

Despite being caught red-handed, Khaliq appealed against the immigration officer’s ban, and had the right to stay in the country whilst his appeal was being heard.

An immigration appeal tribunal agreed with the alert immigration officer, and upheld the ban in January 2010.

But Khaliq was entitled to another appeal, to the upper immigration tribunal – and in July and finally finished the appeal process 18 months on, by winning the right to stay in spite of his lies.

Astonishingly, at his first appeal Khaliq attempted to maintain the fiction that he was proficient in English, telling the tribunal he would need an interpreter provided a public expense purely ‘for technical reasons’.

But Immigration Judge Agnew soon discovered he could not understand her at all.

She dismissed the appeal, noting: ‘I find that the appellant is not a credible witness and that nothing that he says can be relied upon.’

Judge Agnew said it was demonstrated that ‘Leeds Professional College had not made any adequate investigation’ before offering Khaliq a place.

And Judge Agnew ruled that although the visa was obtained outside the UK, in his native Pakistan, the application for leave to enter was also a decision for Immigration to make at the airport – and because he had lied in interviews there his visa became invalid.

But Khaliq appealed to the upper tribunal on the grounds that his visa obtained before he arrived in the UK was valid, and the Immigration Officer had no evidence that he lied to get it, so had to honour it despite what was said at the airport.

The judges at the upper tribunal reluctantly agreed and gave him the right to stay in Britain.

But they added: ‘We reach that conclusion with no enthusiasm.

‘The appellant has been judicially assessed as untruthful. He has been prepared to deceive others as to the level of his competence in English.

‘He has arrived to undertake a course that his ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ college admitted him for, but says that it would have difficulty in delivering to him.’

The UK Border Agency’s own rules meant Khaliq had to be admitted the judges went on, adding that this ‘demonstrates that the Immigration Rules, as in force at the relevant time, provide little security against the admission of what may be described as bogus students.

‘Changes have since been made, but they do not affect this appeal.’ Source: Daily Mail.

See also:

Bogus ‘Glastonbury university’ website taken down following UKBA investigation 

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

University of Wales cease validating degrees at colleges and other institutions

UK Universities and Colleges report thousands of Tier 4 students to UK Border Agency over visa suspicions

‘Pet cat Human Rights Appeal’ overstaying student was a shoplifter

Court overturns UK Government’s non-EU under 21 spouses ban

‘Health tourists’ debtors will face UK ban

Report illegal immigrants Prime Minister urges in new immigration crackdown

Crackdown on immigration fraud – banks and UKBA to share information on debtors

Home Office can revoke British Citizenship as well as deny it for civil offences

Foreign debtors to be banned from re-entering UK

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Looking for a college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

The Commission and the UK Border Agency will share ‘real time’ information with financial institutions. Each year the UK Border Agency processes around 3.5 million applications to visit, live, work or study in the UK.

The aim is to prevent those with no right to stay or work in the UK from accessing financial services. In return, financial institutions will provide the Agency with information on where illegal working and employment is taking place, supporting the Agency’s work in tackling immigration crime.

Identifying immigration offenders in the UK will protect banks from fraudulent applications, for example stopping mortgages being granted to people with no right to work in the UK and therefore no means to repay loans. It will also make it more difficult for organised foreign criminal gangs to defraud banks by making bogus credit applications.

The new data matching service will sit alongside the established data matching work. But the new instant matching facility will help participants to target fraud more effectively. Data from around 1,300 organisations – including councils, the police, hospitals and nearly 100 private companies – is held in the Audit Commission’s National Fraud Intelligence database.

UK banks are much more willing to offer credit cards and loans to foreign nationals than their counterparts in other countries. Access to easy credit means that even those on temporary visas, such as Tier 4 students, can obtain a credit card within months of opening a bank account.

Migrants who get into financial difficulty with debts are often unaware that this could affect their future immigration status.

Most people know that criminal convictions, involvement with terrorist organisations or illegally claiming benefits could lead to a refusal by the UKBA. 

A CCJ stays on your credit history for six years or more and will have to be declared on immigration forms However, many do not realise that even a non-criminal less serious civil judgement (e.g. CCJ) may also affect your application to stay in the country. 

For instance, the FLR (M) Form (Version 04/2011) includes the following question: 

Do you or any dependants who are applying with you have any criminal convictions in the UK or any other country (including traffic offences) or any civil judgments made against you? 

A civil judgement could be a county court judgement (CCJ) for an unpaid bill or debt. 

Hundreds of international students are currently being sued by their former colleges or universities for unpaid fees according to debt collection agencies.

Others have run up credit card debts or leave behind unpaid utility bills or rent arrears.

Moving house and burying your head in the sand will not get you off the hook. 

A civil action for debts can be heard and judgement (CCJ) awarded in your absence, so ignoring the problem will only make things worse for you as court costs are added to the debt. Interest may also be added to the debt. 

A ‘Default’ for an unpaid credit card bill can be registered without even going to court. 

A CCJ or Default will stay on your credit file and history for six years or more and will have to be declared on immigration forms.

Some universities and colleges will chase debtors even when they flee to their own country.

The UK is truly a land of ‘easy credit’ compared to the rest of the world, but for those on visas who abuse the system the consequences can be serious.

See also:

Home Office can revoke British Citizenship as well as deny it for civil offences

Foreign debtors to be banned from re-entering UK

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Increasing numbers of British nationals are being stripped of their citizenship under Home Office powers introduced in the wake of the 2005 London bombings, the Guardian reports this week.

The number of people subject to the power, under which the Home Secretary can deprive dual nationals of their British citizenship if it is deemed to be in the public interest, has increased since the coalition government came to power.

The measure was included in the 2006 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act as a direct result of the July 2005 bombings in which 52 people died and more than 700 were injured. It was used only four times in the following four years, but has been used nine times since last year’s general election.

Five of the dual nationals deprived of their citizenship were British Pakistanis, while two were of dual British and Sudanese nationality. The remaining six were Australian, Iraqi, Russian, Egyptian and Lebanese dual nationals.

To date 10 of the orders have been appealed against.

The figures were obtained by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act after the Home Office refused to release them. It also refused to offer any explanation for the increase, saying: “British nationality is a privilege and the home secretary has the ability to remove it from dual nationals when she believes it to be in the public good.”

Under the terms of the act the home secretary can deprive an individual of British citizenship if she believes it to be “conducive to the public good”, a test historically applied to non-Britons facing deportation.

Previously home secretaries could act only if the British citizenship of a dual national was said to be “seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the UK”, usually because individuals were spies. Immigration lawyers and some MPs have criticised the power, saying the public interest test is set too low. Some are also concerned that British citizenship can be stripped from individuals whose other nationality is meaningless to them.

At least one of those who have lost their British citizenship is understood to have been born in the UK, while others are thought to have lived in Britain since infancy.

The Australian who lost his British dual nationality is David Hicks, who spent more than five years as a prisoner at Guantánamo Bay after being detained in northern Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. The Russian is Anna Chapman, the spy deported with nine others from the US last year. She acquired British nationality through marriage before travelling to the US to join a network of sleeper agents.

The Home Office refused to explain the reasons for depriving the remaining 11 dual nationals of their British citizenship, maintaining it still has responsibilities to them under the Data Protection Act, although officials briefed journalists about Chapman’s case. Source: The Guardian.

Although rarly used, the UK Government can strip a citizen of their passport or Indefinite Leave to Remain.

There are also a number of factors which could damage your chances of obtaining further or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

Migrants should be aware of the revised declarations and questions on immigration forms for further leave or extensions of stay.

Most people are aware that criminal convictions, involvement with terrorist organisations or illegally claiming benefits could lead to a refusal.

However, many are unaware that even a non-criminal less serious civil judgement may also affect your application to stay in the country. 

For instance, the FLR (M) Form (Version 04/2011) includes the following question: 

Do you or any dependants who are applying with you have any criminal convictions in the UK or any other country (including traffic offences) or any civil judgments made against you? 

A civil judgement could be a county court judgement (CCJ) for an unpaid bill or debt. 

Hundreds of international students are currently being sued by their former colleges or universities for unpaid fees according to debt collection agencies.

Others have run up credit card debts or leave behind unpaid utility bills or rent arrears.

Moving house and burying your head in the sand will not get you off the hook. 

A civil action for debts can be heard and judgement (CCJ) awarded in your absence, so ignoring the problem will only make things worse for you as court costs are added to the debt. Interest may also be added to the debt. 

A ‘Default’ for an unpaid credit card bill can be registered without even going to court. 

A CCJ or Default will stay on your credit file and history for six years or more and will have to be declared on immigration forms.

Some universities and colleges will chase debtors even when they flee to their own country.

The UK is a land of easy credit compared to the rest of the world, but for those who abuse the system the consequences can be serious.

See also:

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards

Fake Immigration Adviser jailed

Immigration advisor jailed for 6 years in fake visa scam

Visa scam warning

Sham wedding trio charged

How to avoid the pitfalls when employing migrant workers

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) said that from January 2010, skilled foreign workers under Tier 2 of the points-based system will be issued with identity cards. This brings the roll-out forward from April 2010 and will add around 30,000 foreign nationals a year to those currently being issued with identity cards.

Since their introduction, over 90,000 cards have been issued, mainly to students renewing their visa under Tier 4 of the points-based system and those renewing marriage visas. The government has exceeded its target of issuing 75,000 cards by November 2009.

The UK Border Agency is also to trial technology at 17 Crown post offices to provide foreign nationals applying for identity cards with alternative and more accessible venues where they can enrol their fingerprints. The trials will start rolling out from October.

The Home Secretary said:

‘Identity cards have been issued to 90,000 foreign nationals, exceeding our target by 15,000, a month ahead of schedule.

‘By speeding up the roll-out of the cards, more people will benefit from a secure and simple way to prove they are entitled to live, work or study here and it will prevent those here illegally from benefiting from the privileges of Britain.

‘Our partnership with the Post Office will provide vital extra capacity enabling the UK Border Agency to further speed up the enrolment process and give extra work to help safeguard the Post Office network. It will also give more choice and convenience to migrants about where they can enrol.’

Identity cards for foreign nationals who come to the United Kingdom from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) were introduced in November 2008. Migrants are required to have their photograph and fingerprints taken, securely locking them to one identity and helping them to prove their right to live and work in the United Kingdom – while helping businesses to crack down on illegal working.

The introduction of the identity cards for skilled migrants and temporary workers under Tiers 1 and 5 of the points-based system will also be brought forward, from 2011 to 2010.

From October, foreign nationals who are being issued with identity cards will be given the choice of providing their fingerprints and photograph at one of the participating Crown post offices (for a fee of £8) or at one of the UK Border Agency or Identity & Passport Service Offices currently included within the scheme (which will remain free).

The Post Office will not be making decisions on whether someone can stay in the United Kingdom, and detailed checking of enrolment details will continue to be conducted by the UK Border Agency. The post office trial provides extra capacity for the UK Border Agency and gives customers an alternative for enrolment.

Alan Cook, managing director of the Post Office, said:

‘The Post Office is very pleased to be supporting this trial, as our reputation for trust and the unparalleled reach of our network means we can offer secure and efficient transfer of personal data while the potential for earning additional income would help support and sustain the nationwide branch network.’

Regulations setting out the next stage of the roll-out of identity cards for foreign nationals will be laid in Parliament in October.

For more information, see Identity cards for foreign nationals on the UKBA website.

See also:

UK Border Agency launch online booking for appointments

Tier 4 ‘28 day’ maintenance concession extended for UK visa applications

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

In a week when London’s temperature soared to 32 degrees, Home Secretary Alan Johnson ordered the UK Border Agency to review its rollout of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals, with a view to accelerating the process. But at the same he appears to be making a ‘U turn’ on mandatory ID cards for British Citizens.

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay. Full Story.

Italy adopts new law criminalising illegal immigration

Italy takes a hard line on immigration in a move that harps back to its fascist era under Mussolini. Last week Italy’s Parliament approved a law criminalising illegal immigration and allowing citizens’ patrols to help the police keep order

Deportation reprieve for skippers and Filipino Fishermen

Deportation reprieve for Filipino Fishermen, but the loophole which allows non EU workers to be employed “off-shore” can lead to exploitation. We have met a number of Filipino workers employed by UK companies on vessels off-shore without a Work Permit. Several were forced to jump ship because of extremely low pay and poor working conditions.

London’s first Swine Flu death but no need to panic

The BBC reports that a 19-year-old man has died after contracting swine flu in London, the fourth fatal case in the UK. However, to put this into perspective, the UK has a population of over 60 million, with 7.5 million people living in London alone.

Scotland wants own immigration system

The new Australian-style “points system”, which has been recently brought in by Home Office, requires new immigrants to amass enough points, based on factors such as a employment, skills shortages and community links to gain entry to the United Kingdom. Last week the Government published the latest approved Shortage Occupations List for Tier 2 of the points based system, which includes Care Assistants.

Visa requirement for South Africans starts today

The announcement is clearly designed to reassure the public that the Labour Government is taking steps to secure and strengthen Britain’s borders.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay.

The UK Border Agency website said that the Government plans to speed up the rollout of identity cards for British Citizens. But other reports suggest otherwise, with David Davis refuting the claim in a BBC report, and The Independent describes the move, in terms of compulsary cards for British Citizens, as the “Last rites for ID cards“.

An independent Identity Commissioner will be appointed in the near future to oversee the National Identity Service, but compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals will continue to be overseen by the Information Commissioner and the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency.

Speaking on BBC’s Question Time this evening, Leader of the House Harriot Harmon refused to confirm that the Government would force British people to carry ID Cards.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

The former postal worker from working class roots is tipped by many as a possible successor to Mr Brown, is playing it cool.

He told the BBC:

“I am flattered that people think highly of me. I want them to think highly of me as a home secretary in a Labour government serving under the prime minister.”

The move sees yet another Home Secretary removed from the Home Office in unfortunate circumstances.

The position (Secretary of State for the Home Department), one of the highest in the land, been vacated in controversial circumstances by a number of Jacqui Smith’s predecessors. 

David Blunkett quit the post in December 2004, after it emerged that he had fast-tracked a passport application for his ex-lover’s Filipina nanny.

His successor Charles Clarke was forced to resign two years later following the “escaped foreign prisoners scandal. 

Tough talking John Reid took control of the Home Office famously remarking that it was not “fit for purpose”.

He quickly brought in reforms leading to the formation of the UK Border Agency, but resigned in 2007 to return to the back benches and was replaced by Jacqui Smith.

Jacqui Smith has been under intense pressure and the subject of an investigation into her ’second home’ expenses and her husband’s (who is also her paid assistant) claim for renting a porn movie.

Former Border and Immigration Ministers had mixed fortunes with Liam Byrne gaining promotion to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, whilst Tony McNulty resigned following his ’second homes’ controversy.

With a disastrous local election result today and further resignations, the future for Gordon Brown’s Government looks increasingly bleak.

David Cameron look set to win the next election, which could be bad news for migrants. The Conservatives favour a cap on immigration and have traditionally introduced anti-immigration policies.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

The BBC reports that the Communities Secretary and Minister of the State, Hazel Blears has sensationally resigned from Gordon Brown’s cabinet, increasing pressure on UK Prime Minister to step down. 

Her departure is the second top-level resignation on the eve of the European and English local elections. 

It led to stormy Commons scenes as Mr Brown denied his government was in “meltdown” and rejected calls for an immediate general election. 

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has been forced to issue a denial that he is ready to take over amid reports of a backbench plot - in political speak terms a sure sign that he about to do just that. 

Mr Johnson told the BBC: 

“He is doing the job and there is absolutely no one who could do that job better.” 

The BBC reports that is has seen a proposed letter from one Labour MP calling on Mr Brown to step down.

Never one to shy away from ‘kicking a man when he’s down’, Tory leader David Cameron said the Prime Minister was “in denial” and the communities secretary resigning on the eve of local government elections was a “direct challenge to his authority”. 

He said Mr Brown’s team was now “deserting him”, the government was “collapsing” and he urged the prime minister to “get down to the Palace, ask for a dissolution, call an election”. 

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg joined the growing calls for a general election: 

“It’s a tragedy that exactly at the time when people need help, need action, the country doesn’t have a government, it has a void. Labour is finished.” 

Ms Blears has been under fire over her expenses claims despite repaying £13,000 to the Inland Revenue, following allegations she avoided paying capital gains tax on a property sale. 

The Salford MP denied doing anything wrong but although Mr Brown described her claims as “totally unacceptable”, he did not take any further action against Ms Blears. 

Last month she launched what was seen as a thinly-veiled attack on Mr Brown in a newspaper article, criticising the government’s “lamentable” failure to get its message across. 

In an apparent jibe at the PM’s much-mocked appearance on You Tube, she said: 

“YouTube if you want to. But it’s no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre.” 

She was tipped for the axe in the forthcoming reshuffle, but has stolen the initiative from Mr Brown. 

Home Secretary (Home Office) Jacqui Smith, who also faced expenses criticism and went public on Tuesday with her decision to stand down, said she backed Mr Brown and denied Ms Blears was deliberately trying to undermine him. 

BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson described the move as: 

“Deliberate, calculated and with intent. That is the only possible interpretation of Hazel Blears’ decision to resign today.” 

The European and Local elections take place in a few hours and Ms Blears timing can only be seen as a direct and planned attack on Gordon Brown’s leadership. 

Labour is running at their lowest popularity level in the polls since polls began, and are expecting nothing short of a disastrous result in tomorrow’s election. 

Meanwhile the smaller parties and independent MEP candidates are being overlooked by the media in a European Parliamentary election which has been overshadowed by the MP’s expenses scandal.

Five London independent MEP candidates, all from ethnic minority backgrounds, were ignored by the mainstream press and the BBC this week at their ‘no press’ press conference.  

Gene Alcantara, Haroon Saad, Sohale Rahman, Steven Cheung and Jan Jananayagam hope to buck the trend against independents as voters desert the main parties.

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