The story of the Baroness and the maid

The UK Border Agency announced that it would conduct an inquiry after receiving a complaint which said that Baroness Scotland appeared to have contravened legislation that she herself helped to steer through parliament.

Downing Street said that Gordon Brown had "full confidence" in Scotland and that she had hired the housekeeper in good faith. (He also had full confidence in the Speaker Michael Martin and Hazel Blears and Lord Myners)

Baroness Scotland, who is the government's legal adviser, hired Loloahi Tapui, 27, over the last six months to look after her family home in west London.

But she was forced to sack the Tongan national yesterday after it emerged Tapui had overstayed on a student visa. That meant Tapui was no longer entitled to work in the UK.

The incident is embarrassing for Scotland because, as a Home Office minister in 2006, she helped the government to bring in legislation tightening the law on illegal immigrants. (Maybe she forgot)

The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum Act says employers can go to jail if they knowingly employ an illegal immigrant.

But they can also be fined up to £10,000 for unknowingly employing an illegal immigrant if they have not carried out proper checks. The act spells out in detail what checks are required, and employers have to see certain documentation, such as a passport, and keep a copy.

Steve Lamb, Regional Operations Director of the UK Border Agency said, We will not tolerate illegal working, .... - it undercuts British wages, exploits vulnerable workers and hurts legitimate law-abiding businesses. 'As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants.

Well, actually he did not say it about Baroness Scotland. I found the entry on the UK Border Agency website under the heading, 'Employer faces £10,000 fine'.

Any bets on the Baroness getting off 'scot' free