Moray resident Matt Freeman wins battle against deportation as he is granted limited leave to remain

MORAY resident Matt Freeman has won his battle against deportation – with the UK Government granting him limited leave to remain.

Mr Freeman has said he is "very, very happy" with the outcome, which will give him at least another 30 months in the United Kingdom.

The China-born 47-year-old moved to the UK in 2003 and has lived in Moray since 2012, firstly in Forres and now in Lossiemouth.

Despite that, he has never been successful in his appeal for permanent residency and the Home Office told him in January that he had to return to China.

But now, after Home Secretary Priti Patel met with Moray MP Douglas Ross earlier this month to hear more details on the case, Matt has been allowed to stay due to "exceptional circumstances outwith the rules".

Matt received the good news via email at 8am today. He said: "I'm very, very happy.

"It's a big surprise, I thought I would be waiting until April but I checked my email at 8am and was instantly delighted and surprised.

"I'm so touched by the support I've had. My appeal got 4000 signatures – if nobody had signed then this wouldn't have happened today."

The news has been welcomed by people all around Moray, with Matt having received support from politicians from all parties.

Moray's Conservative MP Douglas Ross said: "This is a great result. I am delighted for Matt, who has waited a long time for this news. It must have been incredibly difficult for him to be told that he had to leave the country.

“I have worked very hard on his behalf for several years now to get to this point.

"I am very grateful to the Home Secretary for agreeing to look at this case again.

“Priti Patel sat down with me recently and I argued strongly, as I have always done, that Matt should be allowed to stay here in Moray, where he has made his home and been an asset to the local community.

“The Home Office has made the right decision.

"Matt can now concentrate on all the positive work he does in our area and hopefully feel more at peace now this burden has been lifted.”

Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead was equally as pleased with the outcome.

He added: "I'm delighted that Matt has been granted leave to remain and I know that many others in the community who know him will also be delighted.

"Matt will be really pleased with this result and hugely relieved that this hurdle has been overcome after so much time and effort to get to this point."

However, the battle doesn't end here. With the leave to remain valid for 30 months, Matt will have to make another application to remain in the UK beyond that.

Lossiemouth community councillor Carolle Ralph added: "We are relieved and delighted for Matt.

"It has been a very stressful time for our dear friend and we hope this will give us time to support his continued fight to obtain permanent residence in his beloved Lossie.

"The entire community is behind him."

Matt co-founded local charity Moray Wellbeing Hub in 2017, while, in 2018, he was elected as director at VOX Scotland, a national mental health charity.

After news of his leave to remain coming in this morning, Matt – a qualified engineer – said he was looking forward to hunting for a new job.

January 29: Moray man Matt Freeman fighting deportation.

February 8: Home Secretary Priti Patel to hear Matt Freeman's case.

March 9: Matt Freeman to discover future in the next couple of weeks.