British EX-CABINET Minister Hazel Blears Admits Using an Illegal Immigrant From Nigeria on Her Campaign Team
EX-CABINET minister Hazel Blears dealt Labour another election blow last night as she admitted using an illegal immigrant on her campaign team.
Nigerian Rhoda Sulaimon has been knocking on doors alongside the MP in Salford, Gtr Manchester, to help defend a 7,945 majority.
But The Sun can reveal she is in Britain illegally and faces deportation.
Single mum Rhoda volunteered to work for Mrs Blears in the hope it might help her remain in Britain, it was claimed. The revelation will heap fresh embarrassment on party chiefs already on the rack over their open-door immigration policy following Gordon Brown's Rochdale "bigot" jibe.
Last night a Labour campaign source said: "Rhoda has been working voluntarily for Hazel Blears in the hope it might help her case.
"She doesn't want to go back to Nigeria and is desperate to stay here. She's been helping out for weeks at the local campaign office and has been out with Hazel when she meets people and goes out leafleting."
Rhoda came to Britain on a student visa five years ago but overstayed after having her daughter, now four. Home Office immigration officials served her notice on April 16 that she had 30 days to report for deportation - an order imposed only after all appeals have been exhausted.
But yesterday she was still working at Mrs Blears' Labour campaign office. Last night the former Cabinet minister, who quit the Government last summer following the MPs' expenses scandal, said she had instructed Rhoda to leave.
She said: "I want to thank The Sun very much indeed for bringing this important matter to my attention. Well done to The Sun.
"I had absolutely no personal knowledge about the situation whatsoever and in fact I'd never met this woman until she walked off the street to volunteer to stuff a few envelopes about three weeks ago. I certainly do not, and never have, condoned illegal immigration.
"If you check my record in the various posts I've held, I've cracked down hard on immigration. In terms of this woman Rhoda, I have instructed her to leave the campaign, and she has gone." Last night Mrs Blears said she had informed the Border Agency after learning that the party worker should have left Britain years ago.
She added: "She told me at about 2pm today. I told her that if she didn't have any right to be here she should go. She was upset. I'm concerned she may go underground or leave her accommodation. I have therefore contacted the Border Agency and spoken to the chief immigration officer.
"I've told her she should go back to Nigeria voluntarily and I want the process speeded up so she can go back as quickly as possible."
Rhoda, who is understood to live on benefits in a council flat, refused to comment.
By NICK PARKER and RICHARD MORIARTY
As culled from UK's Sun.
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