The campaign to allow Precious Mhango and her mum Florence to remain in Glasgow has won the unanimous backing of city politicians.

MSPs and councillors from across the political spectrum are united in their view that the Home Office should scrap plans to force them to return to Malawi and instead let them remain in their Cranhill home.

Deputy First Minister and Govan SNP MSP Nicola Sturgeon said: “I fully support the campaign to allow them to remain in Glasgow.

“Precious has been here most of her life. She considers herself a Glaswegian and people who know her consider her to be a Glaswegian.

“It is unthinkable she should be deported to a country she does not know.”

Pauline McNeill, Labour MSP for Kelvin, said: “As it is a reserved matter I am not involved in the details of the case, but it seems a harsh decision given the reasons that Florence and Precious are here in Scotland.

“I wish them well and support the Lord Provost’s efforts to let them have the chance to remain where they have built up the love and affection of the community they now live in.”

SNP MSP Sandra White said: “I am 100% behind the campaign to allow Precious and Florence to remain in Glasgow.

“The young girl has been in this country for most of her life and I think they should have leave to remain.

“Precious has been integrated into the community and she and her mother contribute well to Glasgow and Scotland.”

Patricia Ferguson, Labour MSP for Maryhill, said: “The case need to be looked at very seriously because there are lots of problems with it, not least because it involves a young person who has spent most of her life in this country.

“I would hope the Scottish Government is talking to the government in Malawi in case the worst comes to the worst to make sure there are safeguards for them in place.”

Bill Aitken, Tory MSP, said: “This is a matter for the Westminster government but I am certainly not happy about a child who has spent seven years in Glasgow being sent back to Malawi.”

Margaret Curran, Labour MSP for Baillieston and MP for Glasgow East, said: “I am MP for the area and I have written to the Home Office asking for them to remain because these are exceptional people and they are in exceptional circumstances. I have had no reply.”

Bill Butler, Labour MSP for Anniesland, said: “I obviously would wish everything possible to be done to ensure no-one is deported who has a right to remain here.

“I hope the campaign will persuade the government to look at this case positively.”

Bill Kidd, SNP MSP, said: “I would support their case being continued because I understand if they are returned to Malawi, Precious would be taken by her father’s family.

“For her to be taken away from her mother would be utterly wrong.”

Bob Doris, SNP MSP for Glasgow, said: “The Home Secretary should intervene to allow them to stay.

“Any asylum policy must be founded on humanity. Florence and Precious have built a life in Scotland. This is their home – they belong here.”

Anne McLaughlin, SNP MSP, said: “I would like to thank the Evening Times and people across Glasgow for their continuing support of Florence and Precious.

“I was scared people would give up, but they have redoubled their efforts which gives everyone involved in the campaign the additional energy and strength they need to keep fighting for Florence and Precious.”

Robert Brown, Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow, said: “I have done a lot of work with women from overseas who have separated from their husbands and found themselves in difficulties so I support the campaign for Precious and her mother.”

Christopher Mason, Liberal Democrat councillor for Partick West, said: “I think they should be allowed to stay in Glasgow.

“I feel the girl has every prospect of making a valuable contribution to our society.

“If they were returned to Malawi the child apparently would be separated from her mother.

“I don’t see that is something a humane government should countenance.”

Paul Coleshill, LibDem councillor for Langside, said: “I am entirely in favour of Precious and her mother being allowed to stay in Glasgow.”

Mary Paris, LibDem councillor for Maryhill/Kelvin, said: “I am absolutely in favour of them being allowed to remain in Glasgow.

“I think it is a nonsense that two people who have made their home here – and a child who really knows nowhere else – are being deported back to Malawi, where a very uncertain future would await them.”

Alex Dingwall, LibDem councillor for Maryhill/Kelvin, said: “I absolutely support the campaign which has my 100% backing.

“Given the family has been here so long, the idea of returning them – particularly given the danger to the family were they to return – highlights

yet again that the whole immigration system needs to be looked at.

“Here we have a family who clearly think they would face danger if sent back to Malawi.

“They have been here almost a decade and it makes no sense whatsoever to send people back who have invested in becoming part of our country.

“Across the city there is a genuine warmth and desire to keep Precious and her family here.”

Kenneth Elder, LibDem councillor for Hillhead, said: “I very much hope Home Secretary Theresa May will intervene to allow Florence and Precious to stay in Glasgow and that natural justice and common sense will prevail.”

Charlie Gordon, Labour MSP for Cathcart, Johann Lamont, Labour MSP for Pollok, Frank McAveety, Labour MSP for Shettleston, and Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow were not available to comment.

And Rutherglen Labour MSP James Kelly did not return calls made by the Evening Times.

‘Please don’t give up on the Mhangos...’

A supporter of the Mhangos has spoken of the family’s “living hell” since being told they are to be deported to Malawi.

Glasgow SNP MSP Anne McLaughlin, who has been campaigning for Florence and 10-year-old Precious to be allowed to stay in Scotland, said they are “plain terrified” of UK Border Agency officials turning up at their home and detaining them.

Florence had hoped a judicial review would have decided it was unduly harsh to remove her and her daughter from their life in the East End of the city.

But last month, as reported in the Evening Times, a High Court judge decided a Home Office deportation decision was “legitimate, necessary and proportionate”.

That means Florence, 32, and Precious, who came to Britain aged of three, have been told to return to Malawi.

Florence now fears she will lose her daughter forever.

The Malawian marriage contract states that any children from the marriage are the property of the husband’s family.

Even though Ms Mhango’s husband is understood to be living and working in Britain, she said her family has been informed that his family will take their granddaughter if they return to Malawi.

Ms McLaughlin, who has become a close family friend, said: “Neither Florence or Precious will sleep because they are so frightened that UK Border Agency staff will turn up at their door.

“They will be in the same bed, clinging onto each other with fear – a mother unable to comfort and reassure her child that she is safe because she does not know if she is.

“This is what Florence Mhango is facing – this is her living hell.”

Florence and Precious – real name Tionge – entered Britain in May 2003, as dependants of Ms Mhango’s husband, who was in the country on a student visa.

They had leave to remain until October 31 2007.

Florence said her husband had been violent towards her in the past, but she hoped that a new life in London would bring a change.

When the violence continued she fled to Glasgow to stay with a friend.

The split from her husband meant she had no right to remain in Britain.

More than 1,300 letters have been written to Home Secretary Theresa May urging her to allow the Mhangos leave to remain.

First Minister Alex Salmond and Glasgow Lord Provost Bob Winter are among the family’s supporters.

Ms McLaughlin added: “There is a truly terrified young woman who made the courageous move to take her child away from a violent domestic situation and who is being punished for it, while her ex-husband continues to live and work in Britain.

“Florence needs you, her daughter needs you. Please do not give up on them.”

A template of the letter Florence and Precious would like you to e-mail or post to the Home Office can be found on the Evening Times website

Rebecca Gray