Follow up to“Threatened deportation beggars belief” story

On 1^st August we posted a story titled “Threatened deportation beggars belief” which concerned the disgraceful treatment of Kier Hardie, the following is a letter I received from Mr Hardie after contacting him to offer our support, it says it all.

Hi Gary,

The info so far is as follows. In June I emailed Home Office to follow up on my passport application being snookered, yet again. On 9 June I got email signed   Anthony Fernandes   Managed Migration UK Border Agency saying getting allowed back into Britain was on a case by case basis at the discretion of the staff based at the port of entry etc. On 22 June after being refused entry into UK at Aberdeen airport because I had no visa and no work permit They said I would be sent back to Turkey as that is where I arrived from (had been there for a fortnight’s holiday with the missus) Told me it could cost me up to £4000.00 (yes 4 grand) subject to availability of carriers etc. Eventually her boss, bless him, OK`d me and she stamped my passport on page 13. The second I got home to my house I sent a strong email to border control. On 25th June I received a response from   Jas Patel, Immigration Group, UK Border Agency. Telling me I had to get a “Leave to Remain” stamp or I’d have problems again etc. I emailed back asking where I got this stamp.   Jas Patel   emailed me back on 26 June telling me to phone 0870 241 0645 to get a NTL TOC Form. I emailed back and got a reply on 30 June from   Amrit Haria   Immigration Group UK Border Agency telling me I had to phone same number but to request a SET(O) form. A couple of days later the form arrived and stated I was required to take a British Test and to pay £750. I tore the thing up in my anger and frustration. It also said in the form notes that if I was an immigrant from Albania, Andorra or Croatia etc - I would not have to pay the fee. A double insult!

Since then, story in the papers etc. I have written twice to number 10 complaining about the home office. And twice got a letter back saying that Gordon brown is busy and gets lots of letters so “We have passed your letter on” TO the home office! Strewth you couldn’t make it up. I have emailed many labour mps, meps etc but no response. I got a letter from Angus Robertson SNP and he says he “honours my perseverance” and is communicating directly with the Home secretary Jacqui Smith.   Lib Dems have not responded to my emails other that automated news and membership info.  Tory MEP Struan Stevenson has had his temporary parliamentary secretary on it for me.   Another mep Alyn, said it was a Westminster issue and not within his locus. Anyone else just basically says - we cannot comment on individual issues etc. The Grampian NHS emailed me to say I couldn’t go back to work (12 hour shifts acute mental health ward) until I get a work permit. The Relocation Advisory Service in Glasgow told me I couldn’t work for ANY UK employer. I said I’d go self-employed but she said that was illegal also. I went to the dole office in Town and they gave me a number to phone. The lady at the other end asked me lots of questions and said I was Ineligible for benefits. I argued that because I left school in 1967 and had worked continuously paying N<I< and Income tax I must be due something back? They have tentatively put me in for Job Seekers but it is unlikely that I’ll get it - because I cannot legally be given a job in the UK as the employer would be, perforce, breeching the immigration rules. !   Further to that - jobcentre in Greenock phoned me yesterday and said they had lost some paperwork and would I send them the last 5 payslips of my missus. The local jobcentre man said to come back in 2 weeks and show him a wee booklet in which I am to have written all I’m doing to get work! I told him - I’m trying to get my British Passport so I can get back TO MY WORK> He said, “Yes” but, can you fill in this book ll that you are doing….etc etc. I left at this point because I was a bit miffed. So after all these years I cannot work for the NHS or anyone else. I cannot work for myself. I cannot get benefits and meanwhile my missus, who is my age and has bad arthritis, is doing 2 or 3 shifts a week in the kitchen of a local pub as a cook. I’ve also been contacted by a lady in her 60`s in Elgin whose husband, 38 (yes thirty eight) years RAF service AND an MBE which the Queen presented him at Buck House - he has also had a form to fill in, take a British test and pay £750. AND I spoke to a guy called Max Horne in Forres who served in Germany as a squaddie, stayed on at the end of his term and although he lives and works in Scotland, wife and 3 kids - he has been told he cannot claim any dole etc. You couldn’t make this up. I am affronted and bewildered. Seems like if you are white, hardworking and loyal you are seen as an easy target for these idiots. This is simply a money gathering scam which I call the IDENTITY TAX> Sorry about the rant - my sleeps patterns up the swanny and I’m getting cranky. Take care and thank you very much for giving a sh…………………Keir

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