David Howarth,

I would like to draw your attention to the situation of Watford footballer Al Bangura who is facing deportation to Sierra Leone and add my voice to those calling for the Home Office to reverse its decision to deport him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7111120.stm

Al Bangura has built up his life in the UK establishing great ties to our country including a family life with his partner and a profession. He has a British partner and a British child. He is in my view significantly contributing to the UK.

Underlying problems appear to me to include:

• Decisions on granting asylum are too slow (allowing people to establish themselves in the UK, then years later deporting them appears wrong to me).
• An individual’s connections to and value to the UK do not appear to be taken into account.
• We are deporting people to countries to which they have no real connection.

I do not require a reply, I just wanted to add my voice to those calling for action in this area and to draw your attention it.

Richard Taylor

Update January 2008 :On 14 January 2008, Bangura won his appeal for a work permit.