Immigration Minister Mark Harper quits after employing illegal worker as cleaner

 
Staff|Agency10 February 2014
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Immigration Minister Mark Harper has quit after it emerged his cleaner was in the UK illegally.

Number 10 said the Forest of Dean MP offered his resignation after being informed of the highly-embarrassing situation.

But it insisted there was "no suggestion" he "knowingly employed an illegal immigrant".

"The Prime Minister has accepted the resignation of the Immigration Minister, Mark Harper," a spokeswoman said.

"Mark Harper offered his resignation after he was informed that his cleaner did not have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, despite having shown him documents claiming she did.

"He immediately notified the Prime Minister - who accepted his resignation with regret.

"There is no suggestion that Mr Harper knowingly employed an illegal immigrant."

In his resignation letter Mr Harper said that while he had not broken the law as an employer, he believed that his position meant he must "hold myself to a higher standard than expected of others".

He conceded that he "should have checked more thoroughly" on taking on the highly-sensitive role that the documents the cleaner recruited to look after his London flat provided in 2007 were genuine.

At that point he had been given a copy of her passport and a Home Office letter stating that she had indefinite leave to remain in the UK and the right to work and run a business.

Last month - mindful that he was steering the Immigration Bill through the Commons and publicly warning employers over the need to check the status of employees - he sought fresh evidence.

But on Thursday morning, he said, he was informed after checking with immigration officials that she was in fact in the country illegally.

"I immediately notified the Home Secretary and my Permanent Secretary. This is now a matter for Immigration Enforcement," he said.

Read More

"Although I complied with the law at all times, I consider that as Immigration Minister, who is taking legislation through Parliament which will toughen up our immigration laws, I should hold myself to a higher standard than expected of others," he told Mr Cameron.

"I have also considered the impact on my Parliamentary colleagues, the Government and you. I have always believed that politics is a team game, not an individual sport.

"Under the circumstances, I have therefore decided that the right course is for me to return to the backbenches. I am sorry for any embarrassment caused."

The Prime Minister said Mr Harper had "taken an honourable decision" and that he hoped to see him return to the frontbench "before too long".

"I understand your view that, although you carried out checks on your cleaner, you feel that you should hold yourself to an especially high standard as Immigration Minister," Mr Cameron wrote.

"You have taken an honourable decision.

"I have always enormously appreciated your energy and your loyalty. It is typical of you that you should be so mindful of the wider interests of the Government and the Party in reaching the decision that you have, and I am very grateful for that.

"You will be greatly missed, and I hope very much that you will be able to return to service on the frontbench before too long."

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Mark has been an excellent minister and he can be proud of the role he has played in sharply reducing immigration to Britain.

"He has been a first-rate colleague and his decision reflects his loyal commitment to the Conservative Party, the Government and the Prime Minister.

"I am extremely sorry to lose him from the Home Office but I am confident that he will be able to bring his considerable talents to government as a minister again in future."

In a limited reshuffle, junior Home Office minister James Brokenshire has replaced Mr Harper as Minister of State, while Karen Bradley moves from the whips office to fill his role.

John Penrose is promoted within the whips office to replace Ms Bradley and Harriet Baldwin is brought into the Government ranks as a junior whip.

Mr Cameron has faced Labour attacks in recent days over his failure to promote women.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in