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The political career of Labour Councillor Hina Mir is teetering on the brink following her conviction for illegally employing an overstaying student as a nanny, a scandal compounded by disturbing allegations of abuse and exploitation that have recently come to light. Mir, a former deputy mayor for Hounslow, was ordered to pay a significant sum totaling over forty-three thousand in fines and court costs this year after an unsuccessful appeal against her conviction for "hiring an illegal immigrant." The case has ignited a fierce political firestorm, with opponents demanding her immediate resignation and the Labour Party's commitment to tackling illegal immigration scrutinised.
The controversy centres on the employment of Himanshi Gongley, an Indian student whose visa had expired in March 2023, rendering her an overstayer without the legal right to work in the UK. Court proceedings revealed that Mir, a qualified solicitor, employed the woman, who was just twenty-two at the time, at her west London home in Feltham for approximately a year until August 2024. Evidence presented suggested the student, nicknamed 'Ria' by Mir, was essentially on-call twenty-four hours a day, six days a week, to look after Mir’s two children, receiving payments in cash.
In a move that has further intensified the backlash, it was disclosed that the young woman flagged down a police car for help on August twenty-eighth of last year, appearing distressed. Upon apprehension, immigration authorities discovered her unlawful residency status. Most damningly, in a subsequent interview with officials, Ms Gongley claimed she had been "physically abused" and felt "suicidal," painting a picture of profound distress within the councillor's household.
Mir’s defence, led by Arif Rehman, attempted to discredit the claims by asserting the story was "fabricated with an intention to claim immigration advantage and to present herself as a victim of modern-day slavery." However, this assertion was effectively dismissed by the court. Judge Stephen Hellman, despite acknowledging Mir's "exemplary character" as a solicitor and community figure, ultimately sided with the nanny's account. "I fall back on my gut instinct," the judge stated, adding, "My educated reflection on the facts is that Ms Ria was probably telling the truth." The judge found it unlikely that the young woman would have "concocted the quite detailed evidence she gave at short notice."
Mir’s own defence was plagued by "inconsistencies," according to the judge, undermining the reliability of her testimony. She had initially insisted that the student was merely a "social visitor," frequenting her home to "play video games, to watch TV and to chill," rather than performing the duties of a nanny and household help.
The fallout has been immediate and severe. Conservative councillors, including Jack Emsley, have lambasted the Labour Party for continuing to stand by Mir, who holds the position of chair of the housing scrutiny panel and is listed as a candidate for next year's local elections. Emsley stated that Mir's position is "untenable," calling the conviction a "serious breach of the law." Ron Mushiso, another Tory councillor, drew a direct link to national policy, arguing that those "gaming our immigration system by employing people illegally for their own ends" should face the full weight of the law, suggesting Mir is "complicit in the problems of tackling illegal immigration in this country." The spotlight now remains firmly fixed on the Labour Party to take decisive action against their embattled councillor.
