Homegrown Coffee Bar

Website about history and memories of life

News

Illegal migrant who arrived in the UK in 2000 before being convicted of fraud and imprisoned cannot be deported as she has lived here too long, immigration court rules

An illegal migrant previously convicted of fraud and imprisoned cannot be deported because she has lived in Britain for too long, an immigration court has heard.

Joyce Baidoo, 57, has been in the UK without permission since 2000 and was ordered to leave by the Home Office in 2007 after being jailed for 10 months for using false identify documents, according to The Telegraph.

But Ms Baidoo has reportedly fought her case to remain in Britain by putting forward the argument that she would struggle to ‘reintegrate’ back into her home country of Ghana.

A judge at an Immigration and Asylum court is believed to have agreed with Ms Baidoo’s reasoning and said that the argument was ‘very compelling’.

The newspaper say the judge also agreed that Ms Baidoo’s ‘long absence’ away from Ghana would lead to ‘significant obstacles’ upon her re-entry.

Despite the Home Office reportedly launching an appeal against the decision, Ms Baidoo won both the first tier and upper tribunal cases.

The upper tribunal heard Ms Baidoo believed leaving the UK would have ‘a detrimental effect on her mental health’.

‘She also said that there would be significant obstacles to her reintegration into Ghanaian culture because of her long absence, the lack of family support and the lack of employment opportunities she would have there.

Joyce Baidoo has been in the UK without permission since 2000 and was ordered to leave by the Home Office in 2007 after being jailed for using false identify documents (Stock Image)
👇 Don’t stop — the key part is below 👇

+3
View gallery

Joyce Baidoo has been in the UK without permission since 2000 and was ordered to leave by the Home Office in 2007 after being jailed for using false identify documents (Stock Image)

Despite the Home Office reportedly launching an appeal against the decision, Ms Baidoo won both the first tier and upper tribunal cases (Stock Image)

+3
View gallery

Despite the Home Office reportedly launching an appeal against the decision, Ms Baidoo won both the first tier and upper tribunal cases (Stock Image)

The upper tribunal heard Ms Baidoo believed leaving the UK would have 'a detrimental effect on her mental health' (Stock Image)

+3
View gallery

The upper tribunal heard Ms Baidoo believed leaving the UK would have ‘a detrimental effect on her mental health’ (Stock Image)

‘She claimed that she would be left destitute, resulting in unjustifiably harsh consequences for her.’

First tier tribunal Judge Jeffrey Cameron said earlier this year: ‘The evidence before me does indicate that Ms Baidoo on return to Ghana would not have any family support given that her husband has died, and she has no contact with her children.

‘Given her age and mental health problems it is unlikely that she would be able to within a reasonable period of time obtain employment and although she may be entitled to some support from the Government by voluntarily agreeing to removal, this would be short-term.’

The Home Office allegedly said the tribunal ‘failed to provide adequate reasons’.

Upper tribunal Judge Richard Manuell said: ‘It was not “speculative” of the judge to conclude that Ms Baidoo would be destitute.

‘He looked at various factors, including the absence of support and the period of absence, and reached conclusions that were properly reasoned and open to him.

‘The judge gave cogent reasons for reaching his conclusions. Proportionality and reasonableness had been fully covered. The onwards appeal should be dismissed. There was no material error of law.’

Revealed: Labour MP in undeclared relationship with boss of trade union she lobbied for in Parliament

Labour MP is under pressure to explain why she lobbied Parliament on behalf of a trade union while in an undeclared relationship with its boss.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Durham MP Mary Foy is in a relationship with militant former fireman Matt Wrack, who led the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for two decades until January.

Ms Foy introduced two Early Day Motions on behalf of the union when Mr Wrack was the FBU’s general secretary – one asking for a pay rise for firefighters and the other calling for the Government to support a union campaign.

She also accepted a £2,000 donation from the FBU for her 2024 General Election campaign, which she launched alongside Mr Wrack.

The union also provided a staff member from its political team to work in Ms Foy’s parliamentary office for more than a year.

It is understood that Ms Foy has now contacted the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to check whether she has complied with the rules on MPs’ declarations.

When approached for comment by the MoS, neither Ms Foy nor Mr Wrack denied the relationship but both maintained that Ms Foy had always campaigned for workers’ rights.

Meanwhile, multiple well-placed sources have told this newspaper that it was ‘well known’ within the union that the pair began a relationship after splitting from previous partners.

Durham MP Mary Foy (pictured) is in a relationship with militant former fireman Matt Wrack

+8
View gallery

Durham MP Mary Foy (pictured) is in a relationship with militant former fireman Matt Wrack

+8
View gallery

Mr Wrack (pictured) led the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for two decades until January

Ms Foy (centre) pictured with Mr Wrack (left) at the launch of her campaign on June 6, 2024

+8
View gallery

Ms Foy (centre) pictured with Mr Wrack (left) at the launch of her campaign on June 6, 2024

While they have now been together for several years, Ms Foy has not declared the relationship in the MPs’ register of interests. The code of conduct requires MPs to declare any family members involved in lobbying the Government, which includes ‘cohabiting partners’.

Asked repeatedly whether she felt that she should have declared the relationship, Ms Foy declined to answer.

Last night Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty said: ‘If these allegations are correct, Ms Foy has serious questions to answer. MPs have a duty to be open and transparent if their family life has any bearing on our work at Westminster.

‘Ms Foy should clarify immediately whether she has been so.’

Ms Foy came under scrutiny in 2021 during the ‘Beergate’ probe after Sir Keir Starmer was pictured drinking beer in her Durham office when there were strict Covid rules in place.

The Daily Mail reported in 2022 that she had launched a ‘drunken tirade’ on the Commons terrace against Richard Holden, the Tory MP who led calls for a police investigation into the event. She later apologised to him.

Police carried out a two-month investigation before concluding that there had been no breach of the ban on indoor mixing because it was a work gathering.

Ms Foy has been a long-time supporter of both the trade union movement generally and also the FBU. While in a relationship with Mr Wrack, Ms Foy said in 2023: ‘I’ll continue to back the demands of firefighters in Parliament.’

While they have now been together for several years, Ms Foy (pictured after winning her seat in the 2024 General Election) has not declared the relationship in the MPs' register of interests

+8
View gallery

While they have now been together for several years, Ms Foy (pictured after winning her seat in the 2024 General Election) has not declared the relationship in the MPs’ register of interests

Ms Foy reportedly launched a 'drunken tirade' on the Commons terrace against Richard Holden (pictured)

+8
View gallery

Ms Foy reportedly launched a ‘drunken tirade’ on the Commons terrace against Richard Holden (pictured)

Mr Wrack has faced his share of scrutiny in recent months after he failed to be re-elected as the FBU’s general secretary in January and then was controversially named as the head of Britain’s second-largest teaching union, despite having never been a teacher.

The militant socialist was appointed to the £130,000-a-year job at the NASUWT unopposed, but there will now be a contested election for the role after a challenger launched legal action, claiming that he had been barred from running.

A spokesman for Ms Foy said: ‘Mary Foy works with a wide range of stakeholders, including a number of trade unions.

‘Mary has proudly advocated for paramedics, prison officers, teachers, firefighters, doctors and other frontline staff in Durham, the wider North East and indeed the country during her time as an MP – that work will continue.’

Mr Wrack said the FBU had introduced a conflict-of-interest policy under his leadership and that he did not attend any discussion on donations relating to the 2024 General Election

He added: ‘It is entirely reasonable for an MP to raise concerns about the pay of dedicated public servants, especially after years of austerity and falling living standards.’

An FBU spokesman said: ‘Our union’s funding of the Labour Party and a number of its MPs is completely transparent.’

A spokesman from the Fire Brigades Union said: ‘Our union’s funding of the Labour Party and a number of its MPs is completely transparent. Ours is the cleanest money in politics.

Ms Foy joins parents demonstrating in support of St Leonard's Catholic School in Durham

+8
View gallery

Ms Foy joins parents demonstrating in support of St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham

Mr Wrack (pictured) failed to be re-elected as the FBU's general secretary in January and then was controversially named as the head of Britain's second-largest teaching union, despite having never been a teacher

+8
View gallery

Mr Wrack (pictured) failed to be re-elected as the FBU’s general secretary in January and then was controversially named as the head of Britain’s second-largest teaching union, despite having never been a teacher

The militant socialist (pictured) was appointed to the £130,000-a-year job at the NASUWT unopposed, but there will now be a contested election for the role after a challenger launched legal action

+8
View gallery

The militant socialist (pictured) was appointed to the £130,000-a-year job at the NASUWT unopposed, but there will now be a contested election for the role after a challenger launched legal action

‘Every political donation made by the union goes through a process and is agreed by the FBU’s executive council.

‘The FBU is proud of the role our representatives played in campaigning to ensure that Labour’s General Election manifesto included a plan to extend workers’ rights such as by banning zero-hour contracts and outlawing fire and rehire.

‘Labour must be funded by trade unions and membership subscriptions.

‘That transparent relationship is in stark contrast to that of the Tories and Reform UK who are bankrolled by the super rich.’

 

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *