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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Minister 'hired illegal worker' | Minister 'hired illegal worker' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Baroness Scotland has sacked her housekeeper from Tonga, because she was allegedly working in the UK illegally. | |
| The government's chief legal adviser employed 27-year-old Loloahi Tapui for six months, the Daily Mail reported. | |
| The attorney general was a Home Office minister when laws were passed to fine bosses who employ illegal immigrants. | |
| They mean even those who employ them unknowingly can be fined up to £10,000. Downing Street said Gordon Brown had "full confidence" in Baroness Scotland. | |
| Registered for tax | |
| It is understood Ms Tapui arrived in the UK in 2003 on a student visa which has since expired. | It is understood Ms Tapui arrived in the UK in 2003 on a student visa which has since expired. |
| A spokesman for Baroness Scotland said she had "never knowingly employed an illegal immigrant". | A spokesman for Baroness Scotland said she had "never knowingly employed an illegal immigrant". |
| "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 spokesman 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 spokesman 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 Chris GraylingConservatives | |
| He added that Ms Tapui, who is believed to have lived locally and been married to a UK national, was in registered employment before being taken on by the attorney general. | He added that Ms Tapui, who is believed to have lived locally and been married to a UK national, was in registered employment before being taken on by the attorney general. |
| He said she was registered for tax and national insurance prior to her being hired and that the attorney general had paid tax and national insurance on her wages. | He said she was registered for tax and national insurance prior to her being hired and that the attorney general had paid tax and national insurance on her wages. |
| "At no stage prior to the matter being raised did Baroness Scotland believe there was any question over Ms Tapui's entitlement to work." | "At no stage prior to the matter being raised did Baroness Scotland believe there was any question over Ms Tapui's entitlement to work." |
| "Ms Tapui has now been dismissed with immediate effect." | "Ms Tapui has now been dismissed with immediate effect." |
| 'Slipshod recruitment' | |
| Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act, employers who knowingly take on an illegal worker face a two-year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. Those who unknowingly take on illegal workers face a maximum £10,000 fine. | |
| The then home secretary Jacqui Smith said at the time the changes would make it easier for employers to carry out identity checks and would deter "slipshod recruitment methods". | |
| Keith Best, of the Immigration Advisory Service, said it meant employers had to comply with Border Agency guidelines - including checking visa status on passports. Those who fail to do so can face a "civil penalty" of £10,000. | |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling 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. | Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling 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. |
| "There is a real 'one rule for them, one rule for us' attitude at the heart of this government and it is a disgrace." | "There is a real 'one rule for them, one rule for us' attitude at the heart of this government and it is a disgrace." |
| Baroness Scotland was appointed attorney general by Gordon Brown when he became prime minister in June 2007, becoming the first woman to hold the post. | Baroness Scotland was appointed attorney general by Gordon Brown when he became prime minister in June 2007, becoming the first woman to hold the post. |
| She advises the government on issues of domestic and international law and attends cabinet when matters with major legal repercussions are discussed. | She advises the government on issues of domestic and international law and attends cabinet when matters with major legal repercussions are discussed. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the disclosures would be embarrassing for Mr Brown, given Baroness Scotland's seniority and her ministerial responsibilities. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the disclosures would be embarrassing for Mr Brown, given Baroness Scotland's seniority and her ministerial responsibilities. |