A Highland family facing deportation to Australia have been told they can stay in the UK until August – but cannot work in the meantime.
The Brain family, who faced being chucked out of the country today, were informed last night that they would be given a stay of execution until later in the summer.
But Gregg and Kathryn Brain have been told they cannot work until their Tier-2 visa is granted – despite the pair both now having jobs lined up.
Highland MP Ian Blackford has urged Home Office Minister James Brokenshire to “urgently rethink” the “pigheaded” decision, which he claimed would put financial pressure on the family.
Mr and Mrs Brain – as well as their seven-year-old son, Lachlan – captured headlines worldwide when they were told they would not be able to stay in the UK, after they moved to the Highlands on a visa program only for it to be retrospectively scrapped.
Last night Mr Blackford said: “I find it utterly incredulous that Home Office minister James Brokenshire has decided to extend the Brain family’s right to stay in their home in Scotland but refused to grant them the right to work.
“How does he expect Kathryn, Gregg and Lachlan to make ends meet until the beginning of August while the UK government refuses to allow them to work?”
But Mr Blackford added: “Both Kathryn and Gregg have secured jobs in the local area, which would benefit the local economy and allow them to continue the enormous contribution that they have already made to life in the Highlands.
“The Tories must urgently rethink this unfair and pigheaded decision – it cannot be right that a young family should have to live with such uncertainty and worry to continue to stay in their home.”