A Zimbabwean student, Brian White at the centre of a campaign to keep him in the UK opened the constituency office for an MP.
Wolverhampton MP Eleanor Smith pictured with Brian White, right, Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal and Jen Davis
Zimbabwe-born orphan Brian White, who hopes to get a place at Oxford University, cut the ribbon to Wolverhampton South West MP Eleanor Smith’s new office in Tettenhall Road, Chapel Ash.
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The opening, on Saturday, comes as another wave of support comes in for the 21-year-old, who has made appearances on national media to explain his plight.
By last night, more than 110,000 people had signed the online petition, set up by friend Luke Wilcox.
Mr White discovered he had overstayed his temporary visa when he applied to study chemistry at Oxford University.
He has applied for a permanent visa, but faces a race against time to get his university place.
Ms Smith, who last month moved to Penn from Birmingham having won her seat at the election, said: “Brian’s cause is a good one – and the more publicity we give him the more chance the Home Office will answer his request and give us the right result.”
She added: “We have had support from all over Wolverhampton as well as across the country.”
The office, which was formerly used by a healthcare agency, is staffed by an office manager, administrator and case worker.
It is open Monday to Friday, with Ms Smith based there on most Fridays.
She added: “It is important to have a constituency office so people in the city can get access to me and discuss any issues they may have.”-ExpressandStar
