SALMOND URGES REVIEW OF MHANGO CASE

SALMOND URGES REVIEW OF MHANGO CASE
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond today urged the UK Government to review the case of  Florence and Precious Mhango – the Glasgow based mother and child facing deportation to Malawi, despite 10 year old Precious having spent the majority of her life in the UK.
In response to questions from SNP MSP Anne McLaughlin , who has been supporting the Mhangos Mr Salmond said the Scottish Government had written to immigration Minister Damien Green “particularly asking that it is time, and I think there’s a huge consensus across Scottish society on this point, that they now review the case of Precious Mhango and her mother Florence, that case should now be reviewed.”   
The First Minister also expressed his concerns that while the detention of children in Scotland has ended, the immediate transfer of detained children to Yarls Wood in Bedfordshire does not alleviate concerns over the welfare of those detained and raises further questions for the UK Government to answer.
The Scottish Government has offered its support to the UK Government in ensuring there are alternatives to detention.
The First Minister’s support for the Mhangos comes as Glasgow MSP and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave them her backing and Education Secretary Michael Russell spoke out in support of Precious and Florence as he marked the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Refugee Council earlier this week.
Glasgow MSP Anne McLaughlin said:
“The First Minister’s statement is powerful support for the Mhangos and I welcome his and the Scottish government’s intervention.
“The First Minister is right to highlight the support across Scottish society and in particular in Glasgow for the Mhangos.  There is widespread understanding that their rightful place is in Scotland.
“Precious is a young child who has made her home and her friends in Glasgow.  She enjoys her school, is involved in the church and is well known in Cranhill where she and her mother live.  She is like any ordinary Scottish schoolgirl – except that she lives under the constant threat of detention by the Home Office.
“Living with the threat of detention and removal over them is damaging to Precious and to Florence.  The Home Office must confirm that they do not intend to detain Precious and Florence while their legal case continues, and I hope will consent to review the case and to permanently lift the threat of deportation from two people who now firmly belong to Glasgow and to Scotland.”