The schoolgirl, who gave her parents the letter to pass on to Timms before they posted it on Facebook, wrote:
‘Sir, things are becoming more and more difficult. Initially, we were living in a two bedroom flat, but now, we have to give a room out because of the house rent.
‘We are now all sleeping in one room'
‘We are now all sleeping in one room. Moreso, we now even find it difficult to feed because my parents keep telling me they don’t have any money.
‘I am a hard working girl that wants to learn more and more but due to the financial situation of my parents I am unable to attend teaching lessons and swimming lessons on Saturdays because my parents say they don’t have enough money.’
‘Sir, I woud like you to please interfere on our behalf.’
The family of the girl, who is a straight A student, is not allowed to work due to immigration laws.
'They have been denied leave to remain so they can’t work'
Speaking to a newspaper yesterday, Timms said:
‘The problem for this family is an immigration one. They have been denied leave to remain so they can’t work. However the government has not said they will remove them yet so they have no chance to appeal and put their side of the story over.
‘This family is only surviving because of help from friends and handouts from the church. Her parents also brought their daughter’s school reports to the constituency surgery, which showed she had all A’s. She obviously a remarkable little girl facing a very tough time but who knows if she will even be here [due to immigration laws] in a couple of years?’