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Tories demand inquiry into Baroness Scotland ‘cover-up’
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor28.09.09
Home Secretary Alan Johnson was today urged to launch a new investigation into the Baroness Scotland case as the Tories accused ministers of engaging in a political cover-up.
In a letter to Mr Johnson, shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said it was “extraordinary” that UK Border Agency officials had failed to interview the Attorney General before clearing her of knowingly employing an illegal migrant.
Mr Grayling said Tongan housekeeper Loloahi Tapui's claim in a newspaper yesterday that Lady Scotland had failed to check her passport raised further doubts about the agency's “cursory” probe. “It looks very likely that all of this was rushed through to avoid disrupting the Labour Party conference,” he said.
In his letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Grayling adds: “I urge you to reopen the inquiry into Baroness Scotland, and also to carry out a full internal investigation into how this inquiry was handled last week.”
He also called for a full statement from Mr Johnson on whether ministers were involved in the investigation.
Ms Tapui's claim that the Attorney General failed to check her passport before hiring her contradicts Lady Scotland's assertion that she had examined the document.
The Home Office has refused to give any further details of how the border agency — which says its officials were “satisfied” that Lady Scotland did check Ms Tapui's documents despite the absence of any photocopied proof — reached its verdict.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw today accused critics of Lady Scotland of sexism. “Had the attorney been a man, I suspect none of this opprobrium would have fallen, because they would have said, Oh, I leave all these things to my wife. I don't know anything about them',” Mr Straw told the Financial Times.
Baroness Scotland was fined £5,000 for failing to keep copies of Ms Tapui's documents.
Reader views (22)
Jack Straw is obviously being a 'Victorian' gentleman it is sexist in his (Victorian) terms to expect a member of 'the fairer sex' to indulge in any complex operation. - OK, I'll take my tongue out of my cheek and say that 'She made the law, she should know what it said'.
- Jim, London
Paying below the going rate, if at the minimum wage level, does not make her anything more than a cheapskate at worst, so that is no real biggie in the grand scheme of things - the emerging revelation that she didn't check the woman's passport despite claiming she did (and remember, she is also charged with failing to keep apparently required records of the same) kinda does fall into the 'biggie' range.
I don't care which side of the aisle she stands on, this lady certainly appears to need an investigation which would firmly establish either guilt or innocence. Given her position in the government this IS an important issue.
- Rogan, Irving
Standard tactics. No reasonable answer to legitimate questions? Smear those who dare to question.
- Rogan, Irving
She broke the law that she helped to concoct. Jack Straw is an idiot
- Peter Haldane, Chelmsford
She should be punished to the full extent of the law and stripped of any bogus title she has. There should be no leniency for hiring illegal immigrants, ESPECIALLY when you are a government figure; this country is a laughing joke around the world. I am sure next he will be saying its racist too. He can make all these ridicolous pc rhetoric, but you cant hide the truth Mr Straw.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7
When all else fails, start shouting about raceism and sexism. Straw has doen himself no favours, nor has he helped with the move to a more equal society.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties
And yet this bunch of liars and cheapskates are asking British soldiers to die for them!!!
- Sue R, London
Employers of illegal immigrants take advantage of their status by underpaying them. In this case Baroness Scotland was employing her maid at a rate of £6 per hour whereas the going rate is £10. On that evidence alone, it would appear that the UK's appointed Attorney General is nothing more than a corrupt New Labour liar. This has nothing to do with sexism, even though the person being taken advantage of in this case, the maid, is a woman.
By using sexism as an attempt to attack Baroness Scotland's critics, Jack Straw has demonstrated that he is incapable of understanding reality and is thereby unfit for office.
Incidentally, this corrupt Labour regime have had a number of problems with the law, particularly with errant offspring, including Jack Straw's son. From memory despite the initial headlines, they do seem to have been treated extremely leniently. All the more reason to have a grateful to be still in office Attorney General, it would seem.
- Harry H, London UK
WHO ASKED JACKBOOT STRAW TO CHIME IN WITH HIS USUAL CREEPY SPIN AND WAFFLE?
THE ENTIRE GAGGLE OF PARASITES WILL BE SPEECHLESS AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHEN THEY WILL JOIN THE DOLE QUEUE.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
What beggars belief is that someone can apparently walk in off the street and after a short interview, take up a household job in top officials households!
Probably a lot of us assume that senior officials draw on pools of highly vetted domestic employees who are carefully chosen, having run the gamut of serious security checks. Wrong!
Without high security background checks, senior officials homes are open to criminals, blackmailers, espionage, terrorists, as well as those illegally in the country having broken many laws to even be here. Too Gilbert and Sullivan to even contemplate!
Our Security Services have also been caught napping on this one. It makes an all out farce of them and the Government officials charged with running their departments.
- Greg, London
Which part of breaking the law and then lying to cover up is sexist? She is being criticised because she is completely incompetent and a fool. It doesn't matter that she is a woman.
- Dannyp, Egham
Straw says it's sexist? Isn't he straying into Harperson's territory here?
- Paul, London
No she is being attacked because she is the central legal person for the Labour Government and she broke a law which she introduced.
Male of female, black or white, there would be demands for her to go because she is not upholding the minimum, but high standards that her position must demand that she is not above the law, she is setting an exemplary legal example to the nation and that she has NO convictions for any offence. The last point must be a requirement for this position.
If she is supported by other members of the government in saying she should stay that rather calls into question their integrity in their government position and so the ethics of those who support her must be called into question.
Further because she has broken a law in her legal position of trust she can no longer set an example to the nation in her position as a member of the House of Lords and so must also resign her seat there.
- James, City of London
She was caught breaking her "own" law. This makes her and the government look incompetent and silly. Allowing her to remain in office and let the issue drag on. Makes the government look arrogant aloof and incompetent. Yet they still keep digging as the hole get's bigger and bigger.
- Mick, London, England
So all the women who attacked her are sexist too, are we? *Doh!* She's being attacked because she's a hypocrit and the rest of the planet think's it's well out of order that the political bullies who have tried to control every minute detail of the lives of the electorate for the last decade think they are above the same rules themselves.
- Roz, France
Not to mention that she's been claiming expenses on her London home despite the stipulation "the allowance is intended for ministers in the House of Lords who live outside London". It's okay though, the police started investigating so Baroness Royall, the leader of the Lords, overrode all previous decisions and allowed the allowance to be claimed by any member of the Lords regardless of location. Phew, close call there eh? They nearly ended up with one of their own in custody, thankfully they make the law so they can change it to suit their needs.
- Bob, Cheam
Brown's Banana Republic's slovenly duplicitous Border Agency needs to get it's finger out and obtain sworn [affidavit] statements from both Her Ladyship and her [self confessed] 'illegal''domestic'!
But then that would sink the Grand Barroness, and hole Gullible Gordo below the waterline, wouldn't it Bottler?
Andrew Pierce said yesterday that he thought the going hourly rate for a domestic help in London was about a tenner.
Yet M'Lady Scotland, she of Grand Titles and ZaNuLabour's inner circle, begrudgingly pays this Tongan barely the absolute minimum wage of 6 quid!
If M'Lady's hastily 'prejudged' premature £5000 fine was for simply 'forgetting' to photocopy documents, what punishment will be meeted out for these freshly revealed crimes of employing 'an illegal' by neglect?
Time for an update from Straw or Johnson!
- Dave, Cumbria
One of them is a liar - and I think I can guess which one. Has anyone ever known a politician to tell the truth?
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
where is this woman's dignity ?
- Squiz, Islington
Very Risky-The AG needs protection-at any given time she has confidential documentation under review on her laptop in hard copy lying around home(s).The idea that no real screening was undertaken for cleaning staff is far to risky-No one in their right mind either in the UK or elsewhere would not check a cleaners credentials.
For maids and cleaners I always speak to their previous employers - Maids and cleaners know everything about you-movements regular schedules and the like and I am not in public office.No excuses.Staff are often poorly educated -anyone with half an eductaion must take the responsibility of their actions-A busy life is no excuse.Shameful.
- Keith G Skelton, Colombo : Sri Lanka
It comes to something, and says an awful lot about the current bunch in power, when many people would rather believe the story of an illegal immigrant with a moody stamp in their passport than a government minister/Member of the House of Lords/highest law officer in the land.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
Nu Labor is above the law again?
- Georgie, Islington, London
