Howlett Watch #2: The Deportation of Majid Ali

A correspondent wrote to new Bath MP Ben Howlett concerning the fate of Majid Ali, the City of Glasgow College student who was forcibly deported to Pakistan in June. Majid had been applying for asylum since 2011, claiming that his family home was raided and uncle and cousin shot dead because of their political beliefs, and that his brother had been abducted by the government. Hundreds of students protested and many more were opposed to his deportation, including Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP, the First Minister for Scotland. Majid has not been heard from since, and reportedly told his lecturer that he was scared hours before being forced onto a military plane. It is thought that he is either dead or was abducted on arrival.

Ben's reply is as follows:

Dear XXXX

Thank you very much for your recent email. My sincere apologies regarding my delay in replying.

I am very sad to hear of the case of Majid Ali, however I have every faith in our Home Office team and in the difficult decisions made by Theresa May and her staff. I will continue to support the decisions made by the Home Office as I believe that they act in the best interests of the British people. The abuse of the student visa system - a system that was installed to encourage international students to study in our great country, and rightly so - cannot be tolerated.

Thank you again for getting in touch. Please do contact me again with any questions or concerns.

Best wishes

Ben Howlett
Member of Parliament for Bath


We question the ethics of Mr Howlett on this matter. There was a very clear risk of danger to this young man's life, and it is highly likely that his worst fears have been realised. How can Mr Howlett continue to support an institution that would knowingly send a young person to their potential death? What is this great country he refers to? It is surely not the United Kingdom under the rule of the Conservatives. To even consider mentioning the abuse of the student visa system in this instance is abhorrent. If Ben Howlett had any concern for the wellbeing of human life, he would oppose the actions of the Home Office on this matter. After only two months, Bath's new MP has disgraced himself.

We'd rather not have to keep writing these posts, but it appears that we are going to be doing so for some time if Mr Howlett continues along these lines. If you have received a response from Ben Howlett that you are not satisfied with, please send it to standingstonesblog@hotmail.co.uk and we'll consider publishing it.
Mr Howlett's contact details are as follows:

Address: 96 Sydney Mews, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 4ED

Phone: 01225 338555

E-mail: ben@ben4bath.co.uk

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Bath Students in Show of Solidarity with UWE #FreeEducation Occupation

This afternoon, members of Bath Students Against Fees and Cuts travelled to the UWE Frenchay Campus Lecture Theatre 2B025 to show solidarity with Free Education UWE and drop off some goodies and bottled water.

Students from Free Education UWE have been occupying the lecture theatre since Monday, in opposition to tuition fees, police brutality towards student protestors in Britain and elsewhere, and in support of Free Education. They would also like to see an end to the university's connections to the arms trade, which has long been a cause for concern for UWE students.

Bath Students Against Fees and Cuts at the Free Education UWE occupation this afternoon

Bath Students Against Fees and Cuts found the UWE occupiers in good spirits. The lecture space is occupied 24 hours a day, however disruption to lectures in the theatre have been kept to a minimum. On Friday a day of free lectures is planned and is open to all.

We had a chat with one of the UWE occupiers about how things are going. They told us : "This has been a chance to get students together, particularly first year students, who make up the majority of the students involved. The occupation will end this week due to the Christmas break, but when we come back the campaign will continue with regular meetings, looking towards further action."

Members of Bath Students Against Fees and Cuts are intending to join with other Free Education activists from around the country at the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) conference in Manchester at the weekend, and promise to continue the fight into the new year, with plans for further actions in work.

Flyer from Free Education UWE

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