There's burying your head in the sand and there's burying your head in the sand in a glass bucket. And unsurprisingly the dear old Home Office has opted for the more public display of intransigence in response to the High Court ruling that its changes to the highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP) were illegal.
The campaign group HSMP Forum had tried to talk sense with the sand-covered head honchos down at the Home Office – quite sensibly pointing out that as migrants had come in on one set of rules they should not be retrospectively subject to the new regulations – but, alas, the Home Boys were so obsessed with their own importance they could not bring themselves to discuss it.
That forced the forum to take the matter to court. But the bucket-dwellers now say they might appeal the decision, despite the judge advising against it.
And just to prove the HSMP Forum's argument, a Home Office spokesman – no doubt through 'gritted' teeth – followed up with the not unarrogant: "Until we make a decision, it is business as usual."
Does that mean they'll be rushing to boot out as many skilled migrants as possible before finally accepting defeat?
Presumably such good use of resources will justifiably reawaken the Gershon-inspired paranoia of civil servants at the Home Office, and there must surely be calls for the head of the honcho Liam Byrne – bucketed or not – and whichever other non-skilled resident workers came to all the wrong conclusions about skilled migrants.
Perhaps there should be a 'highly unskilled government worker programme' to weed out under-performing ministers, civil servants and anyone else found wandering the corridors of power with a sand bucket (lid not included) on their head.
Comments (5)
Sir,
I enjoyed every word of this dressing down. From the begining the Nu Labour gimmicks and tirade against skilled immigrants was unlawful and the spin masters tried their best to get away with cold murder.
Immigrants were being bracketed together and lampooned, when the fact of the matter is that Highly Skilled Migrants, unlike their European Migrant peers, never depended on the Govt for anything. They supported their kin, paid for everything including prescriptions, accomodation not to mention that they were paying their taxes and national insurance and standing on their own legs.
This fiasco is far from over. In a short time you are bound to see a lot of cases for damages against the home office. Liam Bryne should be docked for the gross misuse (abuse) of powers and made to pay the price for wasting precious resources of the tax payer purely for the purpose of Labour spin. I am sure he is experienced and wouldnt mind it (he was recently caught and fined for driving while talking on a mobile), the law abiding Brit that he is.
cheers
venky
Posted by venky | April 11, 2008 9:31 AM
Posted on April 11, 2008 09:31
Here here!
Posted by Ingrid | April 11, 2008 9:41 AM
Posted on April 11, 2008 09:41
This is just an amazing article ! I have sent this around to my entire office and they are laughin at home office and in all honesty they should do !
But yea, brilliant piece of work ..... really appreciate :)
Ajay
Posted by Ajay Jarkani | April 11, 2008 3:05 PM
Posted on April 11, 2008 15:05
Ha ha, truely the best article I've read on the HSMP Judicial Review all week
Posted by Michelle | April 11, 2008 7:11 PM
Posted on April 11, 2008 19:11
Although I am tempted to add to the humour...at this point I'll just take a slightly serious tangent.I really appreciate Tony's effort to lay the facts bare and have the courage to say what is fair and just.
I remember reading somewhere......."Identity is a state of mind and not some random fact of biology or geography"
Thank you for an excellent article.
Tyler
Posted by Tyler | April 12, 2008 1:07 AM
Posted on April 12, 2008 01:07