IMMIGRATION minister Mark Harper has resigned after discovering a cleaner he employed was not legally allowed to work in the country, Downing Street said today (February 8).
It added that there was no suggestion Harper, a junior minister in the home office, knew the cleaner was an illegal immigrant, adding that the woman had given him false papers.
In his resignation letter to prime minister David Cameron, Harper said: “Although I complied with the law at all times, I consider that as immigration minister, who is taking legislation through parliament which will toughen up our immigration laws, I should hold myself to a higher standard than expected of others."
Harper added that he had employed the cleaner in 2007 after making background checks but did not carry out further checks until last month, despite being appointed minister in 2012.
He then found out on Thursday (February 6) that the cleaner did not have leave to stay in the country.
"I am sorry for any embarrassment caused," Harper added.
Cameron said he was "very sorry indeed to see you leave the government" but added that Harper had taken an "honourable decision".
Junior home office minister James Brokenshire was named to replace Harper.
Harper last year launched a controversial campaign featuring trucks with billboards urging illegal immigrants to go home, while in recent months he had been had been overseeing the passage of new immigration laws.
Downing Street said in a statement: "Mark Harper offered his resignation after he was informed that his cleaner did not have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, despite having shown him documents claiming she did.
"He immediately notified the prime minister, who accepted his resignation with regret. There is no suggestion that Mr Harper knowingly employed an illegal immigrant."
It was not immediately clear which country the cleaner was from.
Harper was elected Conservative MP for the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire in 2005 and was appointed immigration minister in 2012.
He will remain a member of parliament.
