A YOUNG Australian boy whose first language is Gaelic faces being kicked out of the UK later this month along with his parents, after the Home Office rejected their case to stay. Seven-year-old Lachlan Brain and his parents Gregg and Kathryn have lived in Dingwall for more than four years and the youngster has even competed at the local Mod in Inverness.

But they face being forced out of the country after their application for an interim visa was dismissed.

Lachlan told The National: “I would be really sad if I had to leave to go to Australia and I really hope that we get to stay in Scotland. My friends are here and we would all miss each other very much. I like my school, teachers and my friends who I have known from Croileagan since I was two and I don’t remember anyone from Australia, except Gramps and Pop. I don’t want to leave all my aunties, uncles and cousins in Dingwall and Strathpeffer.”

Their case is being taken up by local MP Ian Blackford, who is writing to Immigration Minister James Brokenshire. Blackford told The National: “This is utterly ridiculous. It demonstrates all the shortcomings in the UK immigration policy that people who are here and are making a contribution to our economy, and who want to stay and live here, are being forced out. “I want Mr Brokenshire to intervene and order that the family are given leave to appeal while they are in this country.”

The Brains first came to Scotland in 2001, for their tenth anniversary, and fell in love with it.

“We came over again in 2005 for a few weeks to take the holidaymakers’ glasses off to see if it could be made to work, and between 2005 and 2011 it was a case of trying to get visas and making it happen logistically,” said Gregg. “We ended up coming over on a student visa – Kathryn studied here and has just completed her degree in Scottish history and archaeology.

“Even on the university application form she described our desire to immigrate here, to do the course and stay on afterwards to work for someone like the National Trust for Scotland or Historic Scotland.”

Kathryn added: “We were responding to the 2007 Highland homecoming programme the Scottish Government were promoting in Australia, which was also backed by the Home Office. They laid out the progression you could make to come back and help repopulate the Highlands.”

Both have Scottish roots, and Kathryn’s student visa, which listed her husband and son as dependents, expired in December. Gregg had been working full-time and Kathryn had been offered a job, but they have been told they are not allowed to work here. “We thought we were Theresa May’s poster family for successful immigrant candidates. We are willing to culturally and linguistically assimilate, paying our own way, willing to live and work in a sparsely populated area and we’ve been told we have to leave,” added Gregg.

Rachel-Ann Urquhart, Lachlan’s teacher at the Gaelic Medium Unit in Dingwall Primary School said removing him from his Gaelic education would cause him to suffer “both socially and academically”.

In a letter to the Home Office she wrote: “I believe that in Lachlan’s best interests he should remain at Dingwall Primary, where he is successfully learning and achieving through the medium of Gaelic.

“Lachlan also has a great number of close, social friendships at the school, which he has developed during his time in education there.”

Blackford said the case was a perfect illustration of why immigration policy for Scotland should be decided here: “The Highlands need people who want to stay and make a contribution,

“It’s a nonsense that the big stick of the UK Government is forcing these people out on a technicality. They have never taken a penny off of the state. They are here to make a living and Lachlan’s enjoying the benefit of Gaelic education We want young families to settle here, participate in the culture and become part of life here, but the UK Government is saying ‘no’ – it’s barking mad.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “All visa applications are considered on their individual merits, and applicants must provide evidence to show they meet the requirements of the immigration rules.”

Friends set up a site to help fight the deportation, at crowdfunding.justgiving.com/backthebrains.

The National View: Home Office must see sense and allow family to stay