Have your say: What should we require new citizens to do before they can become British?
2009 September 24
Here’s a multiple choice question for you to ponder.
What should prospective citizens to do in order for them to become British?
- Sign up as a volunteer for local charity
- Pass a British history test
- Be able to read and speak English
- Know the words to “God Save the Queen”
- None of the above, just pay taxes and obey the law
I’ve made some of choices these up, but some of them are actual proposals by the Home Office in their new points based citizenship consultation. If you’ve strong feelings about this (and I would hope you do!) then you can submit your opinions to the Home Office online.
Here’s something else to think about. Should these requirements apply to British born citizens as well? Personally, I think they should. This simple but effective test for evaluating whether proposed changes to citizenship requirements are reasonable or just political nonsense.
1) Definitely have a random conversation in English.
2) Be economically active and enterprising. Get a job or start a business.
3) Have some sympathy with being English, at least know about Boudicha through to Winston Churchill. Like us. Be likeable.
4) Decide to remain here and become English even though with an Afro or Carribean or Indian or Bengali or Pakistani or New Zealand/Australian/Canadian/American/European slant but sympathise and add to our cuisine and culture.
5) If you don’t want to do anything but slag us off or ponce off our benefits, fuck off.
Yeh.