Matt Freeman deportation: Home Secretary Priti Patel to discuss case with Moray MP Douglas Ross
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HOME Secretary Priti Patel will meet with Moray MP Douglas Ross to discuss the case of a Moray man facing deportation to his native China.
Matt Freeman (47), born and raised in China, moved to the United Kingdom in 2003 to study for a PhD at Leeds University.
In 2012, he moved to Forres for work, and he now stays in Lossiemouth.
Despite countless efforts, costing tens of thousands of pounds, Mr Freeman, who has no family in China after the death of his parents in 2000, has been denied leave to remain in the UK.
MORE: Matt Freeman's fight against deportation
Moray's Conservative MP Douglas Ross contacted the Home Office again in January to argue that the case is looked at again.
Today, he raised the matter with Home Secretary Priti Patel during Home Office questions in the House of Commons and asked for a meeting to discuss the “considerable case for Matt to remain in Moray”.
In response, Ms Patel said it was a “very important case” and agreed to a meeting to discuss its “detailed nature”. It is hoped the meeting can take place as soon as possible.
The news has gained cross-party support, with both Douglas Ross and Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead, who has also been heavily involved with the case, hoping for a positive outcome.
Mr Ross said: “I am very pleased that the Home Secretary has agreed to meet with me to discuss this case.
“Matt is big part of the community here in Moray and always wants to help others and contribute to the area.
“He has made Moray his home and I want to do all I can to ensure that he can stay here.
“Matt has no immediate family in China so no reason to return, but he has a network of support here which has been important since he was diagnosed as bi-polar.
“This is a complex case, and my office has a huge amount of paperwork dating back several years now.
“I look forward to meeting the Home Secretary personally to go over all the details of the case and I hope for a positive outcome.”
Richard Lochhead added that he hopes Priti Patel "takes on board" the points made to her by both Douglas Ross and himself.
He said: “The community campaign to support Matt has attracted cross-party support and I hope the Home Secretary takes on board the representations being made to her by both Moray’s MP and myself as MSP.
"Matt has lived in Moray for many years and the sooner he can be given the right to remain and the cloud of uncertainty lifted the better. ”
Matt has suffered from mental health problems and co-founded the charity Moray Wellbeing Hub in 2017, while, in 2018, he was elected as director at VOX Scotland, a national mental health charity.
You can join more than 4000 others in signing a petition calling for Mr Freeman to be allowed to remain in Moray HERE.
