Anyone who finds themselves in a little difficulty regarding hiring illegal immigrants can have some free legal advice from the Attorney General. Having originally briefed the press about seeing a passport and Home Office letter showing that her Tongan maid had the right to work in Britain, the highest law officer in the land was “close to tears” as she argued she had been duped. She went on to say she had been going through a ‘very tough time’ when she took her cleaner on.

So if the person responsible for drafting and passing the law can get away with breaking it with this line, so can all the businesses bankrupted for falling foul of the rules, right?