PERTH MP RAISES SINGH CASE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

PERTH MP RAISES SINGH CASE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

‘UNDERLINES NEED FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM’

SNP Home Affairs Spokesperson and MP for Perth and North Perthshire, Pete Wishart has urged the UK Government to follow the lead of the Obama administration and put an immediate stop to the deportation of widows.

Speaking at Business Questions in the House of Commons today (Thursday), he raised the issue with Harriet Harman MP, Leader of the House and Minister for Equality.

Mr Wishart made his comments as he intervened in a constituency case which saw a Perthshire mother and two young children forced out of Scotland following the unexpected death of her husband.

Mr Navjot Singh and his wife Nidhi came to Perth in 2004 and their first daughter, Kashish (8) was enrolled in a Perthshire primary school. Their second daughter, Tanisha, was born in Scotland. Under immigration rules they would have been eligible to stay in the UK indefinitely next month, however Mr Singh died early this year. Now his widow and children are being forced to leave. Mrs Singh agreed to return to India with her children earlier this year, because she did not want to remain in Scotland illegally.

Commenting, Mr Wishart MP said:

"The Singh family are in a dreadful situation. I am appalled by what has happened and this shows how bureaucratic and rigid the rules are.

"Mrs Singh has a degree in electronics and communications and has a useful contribution to make to the Perth community. Her children have started their education here and know no other country. Mrs Singh should be allowed to come back to the UK without being subject to this officious nonsense. What we need is a system that works on behalf of families placed in this particular and unusual situation.

“The rigid bureaucracy of the new points based immigration system must be reconsidered immediately to avoid situations as difficult as this one. As it currently stands, there is no room for discretion.

“This absurd lack of flexibility was brought to light with the case of another of my constituents - Swarthick Salins – who was threatened with deportation after he accidentally dipped into his overdraft.

“Recently, President Obama indicated he will be putting a stop to the deportation of widows and widowers. This is a sensible and reasonable measure which will spare much heartache for already grieving families. I urge the UK Government to take similar action immediately.”