Family at risk of deportation are ordered not to work

A FAMILY threatened with deportation from Scotland to Australia has been allowed to remain in the UK until August – but refused the right to work, according to their MP.

Ian Blackford, an SNP MP, said he was informed of the Home Office decision surrounding the Highland-based Brain family last night and called on James Brokenshire, the UK immigra- tion minister, to urgently rethink the “unfair” stance.

Gregg Brain moved from Australia to Dingwall with his wife, Kathryn, and their son Lachlan in 2011. Lachlan, who is now seven, has Scots Gaelic as his first language.

The father and son came to Scotland as dependants of Mrs Brain, who was on a student visa. The family’s case has drawn support from their community and from politicians, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, amid fears they were at risk of being deported today. They hoped a job offer made to Mrs Brain by GlenWyvis distillery in Dingwall would meet visa requirements and allow them to stay.

Mr Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said that, following the campaign on their behalf, the family has been granted leave to remain until Aug 1, but had been told they cannot work in the meantime. “How does [Mr Brokenshire] expect Kathryn, Gregg and Lachlan to make ends meet until the beginning of August while the UK Government refuses to allow them to work?” said Mr Blackford.

“Both Kathryn and Gregg have se- cured jobs in the local area, which would benefit the local economy and allow them to continue the enormous contribution that they have already made to life in the Highlands. The Tories must urgently rethink this unfair and pig-headed decision – it cannot be right that a young family should have to live with such uncertainty and worry to continue to stay in their home.”