An Englishman's Castle

Working the system - Newspaper Edition - Times Online

THOUSANDS of illegal immigrants are being issued with national insurance numbers every year even though officials know that they have suspect immigration documents.
Staff in Jobcentres have been told that they have a duty to issue an NI number even if they realise that the applicant has forged documents and no legal right to work, official papers seen by The Times reveal.
The NI number, which employers regard as a prerequisite to work, can also be used to claim various benefits.

Of course for an employer you have to check the passport or birth certificate as well as the NI card to give someone a job legally, but I doubt many do. we had always assumed that an NI card meant something, but now we learn: "“The important point for us is that national insurance numbers are an internal reference number that lets us link an individual with their social security, or their child support, or their tax or their contribution record. It is not proof of identity, and it is not supposed to be proof that you are entitled to work."

Yet another shambles for "Dr" Reid.

I thought John Reid was going to win the stupidity of the week award last weekend when he slipped off for a bit of French leave rather than get on with the job, what is it with these people? But then I witnessed a rabbit run twenty yards out of a field of wheat and head-but Mr FM who was standing there with his shotgun looking for rabbits. So the rabbit just beat Reid in stupidity stakes, but only just.