Citizenship will have to be 'earned' by new migrants

Published on Wednesday 20 February 2008 21:17

FOREIGNERS who want to settle permanently in the UK must "earn" their citizenship by passing more tests, in the biggest revamp to the immigration system in a decade.

Unveiling the plans yesterday, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said new migrants will have to demonstrate their contribution to the UK at every stage of the process towards full citizenship, or leave the country.

Migrants will have to wait at least one year longer to become naturalised, taking out a probationary citizenship first. They then face further hurdles before being allowed to claim benefits.

Higher fees for citizenship applications will also be imposed. And some migrants may have to pay into a fund towards public services. There will also be more English, Welsh or Gaelic language testing and requirements to demonstrate integration into communities.

Last night, the Tories branded the proposals, which do not cover EU citizens, a "gimmick".

Ms Smith told the Commons she wanted to end the situation where foreign nationals "languish in limbo" by living here but not adapting to the "British way of life". And she warned the UK is likely to clamp down on visas for foreigners who spend years in Britain but choose not to become citizens.

The move comes as the government faces a backlash in the polls and from local authorities over the perceived strain on public services from migration.

Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, said citizenship came with a set of responsibilities.

He said: "For people coming to Britain, and wanting to become British, citizenship should not only be a matter of their choice but should depend upon actively entering into a contract through which, by virtue of responsibilities accepted, the right of citizenship is earned."

Currently, migrants are given indefinite leave to remain after five years in the UK and can access most of the benefits available to citizens. In future, those rights will be replaced by probationary citizenship, where benefits will be withheld.

But opposition parties lambasted the proposals, warning there could be legal challenges.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said:

"In many cases, the granting of UK citizenship, probationary or permanent, will result in the loss of original nationality under the laws of the country the individual comes from.

"This could make British citizenship permanent – (but] under international law you cannot render a person stateless."

Tom Brake, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said: "What kind of first step to citizenship is it to ask new people to pay more for public services in a country where we're all allegedly equal?"