Westminster blog

Some readers may have sympathy with Baroness Scotland, who has denied knowing that she was employing an illegal immigrant as her housekeeper for several months. The UK Border Agency has confirmed it is to investigate the situation – which was revealed in this morning’s Daily Mail.

There but for the grace of, you might think. Gordon Brown has given her his full backing.

Except Baroness Scotland, as attorney general, is the most senior law officer in Westminster. And the government has made it a punishable offence (up to £10,000 fine) to employ an illegal immigrant, regardless of whether or not you, the employer, knew. It is your responsibility to do the appropriate checks. Tim Shipman points out that the relevant law was only brought in three years ago.

Baroness Scotland’s office 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 peer had paid tax and NI in relation to her employment.

But Baroness Scotland is yet to publish any evidence of forged documentation.

I’m inclined to share the view of shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, who 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.”