Today I raised a point of order with Speaker Bercow, to bring my concerns about the deportation of Zimbabwean nationals and the failure of the Home Office to engage with me on the issue, to the attention of Parliament. I was grateful for his strong support and will be following up with the Leader of the House and the Home Secretary.

I highlighted the case of one of my constituents, who is a Zimbabwean national and asylum seeker who had an outstanding claim. On arrival at Vulcan House in Sheffield for a routine interview, she was met by officials from the Zimbabwean Embassy – in contravention of immigration rules that make it clear that that the Home Office should not take steps for the removal of an individual from the UK whilst a fresh claim is being made.

My concern extends to the wider issue of removing Zimbabwean nationals in the face of growing evidence that the post-Mugabe regime in the country is repressing its opponents.