A SCOTTISH Labour MP has condemned visa rules introduced by the previous government as one of their constituents faces deportation despite doing “everything right”.
Falkirk MP Euan Stainbank said the Skilled Worker Visa scheme rules, introduced under Boris Johnson’s premiership, were designed without “fairness” or “common sense” in mind.
Stainbank said Farouq Ahmed, a graduate of the University of Stirling, has worked at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in a frontline role, helping to deliver child maintenance enforcement services.
The Labour MP added that despite Ahmed's contribution to the public service, along with being an active member in his local community, and a record of following the rules, he now faces removal from the UK after his visa was refused due to not meeting the revised salary threshold.
“Farouq’s story is heartbreaking and infuriating. He has done everything right – he came here legally, studied hard, worked in public service, paid his taxes, and made a real difference to families across the UK while living and contributing to Falkirk,” Stainbank said.
“To now be threatened with removal due to an arbitrary salary threshold is counterproductive.
“This is yet another example of the damaging legacy left behind by the Conservative Government’s panicked reaction to their broken immigration system. These rules weren’t designed with fairness or common sense in mind – they were driven by political expediency and a Tory Government who knew their policies were failing.”
Ahmed is one of dozens of local DWP workers being represented by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in April demanding that the scheme’s rules be addressed urgently.
Stainbank added: “Farouq and those like him are not a statistic – he’s a hardworking civil servant who has worked tirelessly for children to receive the support they’re due. He contributes to the system every day, and it is frankly disgraceful that the system is now turning its back on him.”
Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman also met with representatives from the PCS union and heard directly from those affected by the changes to the scheme.
He said it is “baffling” that government rules are punishing people like Ahmed who work for DWP because their wages are “lagging far behind” other departments.
“The Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship salary thresholds and criteria, introduced by the previous Tory government, should be changed to allow hard-working DWP staff to stay,” Leishman said.
“I have previously met with PCS officials as well as constituents of my own who are worried about their families’ future in Alloa and Grangemouth – despite doing everything right.
“DWP workers such as Farouq have done so much to contribute positively to our society, yet they are now being denied the opportunity to remain working simply because their pay is lagging far behind other government departments.
“With the DWP facing a staffing shortage, it is baffling to see that the Government’s own rules will see hundreds of experienced staff dismissed.”
He added: “Farouq and others have sought to contribute meaningfully to our society, we should be grateful that they chose the UK to study, live and work.
“I stand firmly with the affected workers. The DWP and Home Office must do more to resolve the issue before families are removed from the UK.”
