Success!

Have just heard that Annociate has been given discretionary leave to remain in this country. Fantastic news. Many thanks to all the people that have helped this campaign in any way.

Times Educational Supplement

There is excellent coverage of our campaign in today's Times Ed. A beautiful picture of Annociate on the front page of the FE supplement and a good article on page 24. (see press coverage)

Campaign not yet over!

Annociate and Myra appeared on Calandar today, in an interview at the Conversation Club. The Times Educational Supplement published a good article on page 3 of the FE section, thanks to the Sheffield College press release. I was interviewed on Radio Sheffield. The Sheffield Star printed the story of Annociate's release, but unfortunately indicated that Annociate now has the right to stay here. This is not yet true. Annociate is still an Asylum Seeker, and will have to report to Vulcan House every week. Surely though she has now suffered enough, and should be given the right to stay and be allowed to marry. This blog will stay on-line until we can publish some wedding pictures!

Freedom!

Annociate is on her way back home to Sheffield! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to all the people that have made this campaign a success. The immediate threat of deportation is now over- however, there are more battles to fight, as now we need to ensure that Annociate gets her id card so she can get married.

At 1am this morning Annociate was moved from Colnbrook. At first she didn't know where she was going, so must have thought she was on the way to the airport. However, they took her to Yarlswood. At 9am Radio Sheffield broadcast the interview that was recorded last night on the prison phone. Annociate spoke with great dignity about her plight. Today they have filled in bail forms and she is presently on her way back to Sheffield. Her support group are looking forward to meeting her from the train and giving her a big hug!

Radio Interview with Annociate

Today BBC Radio Sheffield interviewed Annociate on the phone. Hopefully this will be broadcast on the early morning news bulletins at 7am and 8am. Please tune in!

Shocking conditions

Yesterday Annociate was taken from Dungavel to Colnbrook in a mini bus. Myra was allowed to speak to her at about 8.30pm We are all shocked beyond measure to learn that Annociate is in solitary confinement, locked into a prison cell with nothing to take her mind from her terrors. She is very, very distraught . She says it is worse than Bridge Street police cells in Sheffield which are appalling. She has not been given her suitcase, has no extra clothes, no blanket and is very cold. Her toilet is in the cell with her so she cannot even go out to the toilet. We fear she will be unable to bear this added horror just before the deportation. It is gratuitous inhumanity to lock her up in such conditions. Please write to

Colnbrook IRC
Colnbrook by Pass
Harmondsworth
West Drayton
UB7 0FX

and ask that she be moved from that cell.

Removal deferred

Annociate's solicitors have just had a message to say that the removal directions have been deferred. Thank goodness! This is because the Home Office are considering the representations they sent them.

This means that the flight should NOT go ahead on Thursday. Please stop phoning/writing to Kenya airlines for now. Keep an eye on this blog for any more news.

It is highly likely that a new decision in response to the representations will be made soon. If it is negative we may be needing your support again on the phones. In the mean time please concentrate on getting more people to sign the on-line petition, (which has currently reached 399 with many excellent comments)write to Liam Byrne or join the Facebook group.