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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Minister 'hired illegal worker' | Minister 'hired illegal worker' |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Attorney General Lady Scotland has sacked her housekeeper from Tonga, because she was allegedly working in the UK illegally. | Attorney General Lady Scotland has sacked her housekeeper from Tonga, because she was allegedly working in the UK illegally. |
| The government's chief legal adviser employed 27-year old Loloahi Tapui for six months, the Daily Mail reported. | The government's chief legal adviser employed 27-year old Loloahi Tapui for six months, the Daily Mail reported. |
| A spokesman said the minister had employed the woman "in good faith", believing she was entitled to work in the UK. Ms Tapui has been dismissed. | A spokesman said the minister had employed the woman "in good faith", believing she was entitled to work in the UK. Ms Tapui has been dismissed. |
| Employers are under a duty to verify the status of their employees. | Employers are under a duty to verify the status of their employees. |
| 'Good faith' | 'Good faith' |
| Knowingly taking on somebody who is an illegal worker is punishable by a two-year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. Employers who unknowingly take on illegal workers face a maximum £10,000 fine. | |
| It is understood Ms Tapui arrived in the UK in 2003 on a student visa which has since expired. | |
| A spokesman for Baroness Scotland said she had "never knowingly employed an illegal immigrant". | A spokesman for Baroness Scotland said she had "never knowingly employed an illegal immigrant". |
| "She hired Ms Tapui in good faith and saw documents which led her to believe that Ms Tapui was entitled to work in this country," the spokesman said. | "She hired Ms Tapui in good faith and saw documents which led her to believe that Ms Tapui was entitled to work in this country," the spokesman said. |
| At no stage prior to the matter being raised did Baroness Scotland believe there was any question over Ms Tapui's entitlement to work Spokesman for Baroness Scotland | At no stage prior to the matter being raised did Baroness Scotland believe there was any question over Ms Tapui's entitlement to work Spokesman for Baroness Scotland |
| He added that Ms Tapui, who is believed to have lived locally and been married to a UK national, was in registered employment before being taken on by the attorney general. | He added that Ms Tapui, who is believed to have lived locally and been married to a UK national, was in registered employment before being taken on by the attorney general. |
| He said she was registered for tax and national insurance prior to her being hired and that the attorney general had paid tax and national insurance on her wages. | |
| "At no stage prior to the matter being raised did Baroness Scotland believe there was any question over Ms Tapui's entitlement to work." | "At no stage prior to the matter being raised did Baroness Scotland believe there was any question over Ms Tapui's entitlement to work." |
| "Ms Tapui has now been dismissed with immediate effect." | "Ms Tapui has now been dismissed with immediate effect." |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "This is a government that says all small employers should be prosecuted if they don't know the immigration status of their employees and yet we have senior ministers who can't be bothered to make the checks themselves. | Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "This is a government that says all small employers should be prosecuted if they don't know the immigration status of their employees and yet we have senior ministers who can't be bothered to make the checks themselves. |
| "There is a real 'one rule for them, one rule for us' attitude at the heart of this government and it is a disgrace." | "There is a real 'one rule for them, one rule for us' attitude at the heart of this government and it is a disgrace." |
| Baroness Scotland was appointed attorney general by Gordon Brown when he became prime minister in June 2007, becoming the first woman to hold the post. | Baroness Scotland was appointed attorney general by Gordon Brown when he became prime minister in June 2007, becoming the first woman to hold the post. |
| Immigrant crackdown | Immigrant crackdown |
| She advises the government on issues of domestic and international law and attends cabinet when matters with major legal repercussions are discussed. | |
| During her previous job as a minister in the Home Office, legislation was passed cracking down on illegal migrants and imposing tougher penalties on employers. | |
| The then home secretary Jacqui Smith said at the time the changes would make it easier for employers to carry out identity checks and would deter "slipshod recruitment methods". | |
| Lady Scotland has been a minister since 1999 and has also served in the Foreign Office and the Lord Chancellor's departments. | |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the disclosures would be embarrassing for Mr Brown, given Baroness Scotland's seniority and her ministerial responsibilities. | |