'It's like not paying congestion charge' Law chief on employing illegal staff.Byline: James Tapsfield ; Joe Churcher ATTORNEY General Baroness Scotland's job is hanging in the balance after she was fined pounds 5,000 for employing an illegal worker as a housekeeper. Despite issuing a grovelling grov·el intr.v. grov·eled also grov·elled, grov·el·ing also grov·el·ling, grov·els also grov·els 1. To behave in a servile or demeaning manner; cringe. 2. apology and receiving backing from Gordon Brown, the peer risked inflaming in·flame v. in·flamed, in·flam·ing, in·flames v.tr. 1. To arouse to passionate feeling or action: crimes that inflamed the entire community. 2. the row by comparing her mistake to forgetting to pay the London congestion charge The London congestion charge is a fee for some motorists entering the Central London area. As of 2006 it is the largest city to have adopted a congestion charge model. The organisation responsible for the charge is Transport for London (TfL), with Capita Group operating the scheme . Political opponents branded her "breathtakingly complacent" and accused the Prime Minister of "dithering" over sacking her. The UK Border Agency launched a probe after it emerged that a Tongan citizen paid by Lady Scotland, pictured inset, to look after her west London West London is the area of Greater London to the west of Central London. Although it is only ambiguously defined, it is one of the most economically active areas of London outside of the centre, containing significant amounts of office space along with Heathrow Airport and many of home had overstayed her student visa. Yesterday morning, chief executive Lin Homer accepted that the peer had not "knowingly" employed an illegal worker, and "took steps" to check documents for 27-year-old Loloahi Tapui. "However, the law requires that employers must keep copies of documents proving the right to work in the UK and in this instance the employer failed to meet this requirement," she added. Lady Scotland, the Government's top legal officer, said she "fully accepted" the findings, adding: "It's like driving into the City and not paying the congestion charge congestion charge congestion n → City-Maut f congestion charge n → pedaggio da pagare per poter circolare in automobile nel centro di alcune città, introdotto per la prima volta a ." "It's not a criminal offence," she said. "I made an administrative, technical error for which I am bitterly, bitterly, sorry. I will never fail to take a photocopy again. I got it wrong. It was a technical breach and I have paid the penalty." Aides insisted Lady Scotland had not been downplaying the importance of the mistake but was highlighting the difference between a criminal and civil offence. But the remarks risked undermining efforts by Mr Brown to draw a line under the episode. Shortly before, the premier, en route to the US for the G20 summit, released a statement saying he felt that no further action was necessary because the investigation had found she had not knowingly employed an illegal worker. Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling hit out, saying: "There is a breathtaking culture of complacency at the heart of this Government." Comment 10 |
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