BRITAIN: People wanting to become United Kingdom citizens will have to swear an oath of allegiance, sit stringent English-language tests, and show an understanding of the British way of life.
These are the headline proposals in the radical reform of nationality, immigration and asylum policy in the UK published yesterday by the Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett.
Announcing the proposed Citizenship Pledge, Mr Blunkett also unveiled proposals for American-style "citizenship ceremonies", which he said would end the "mail-order" approach to acquiring British nationality and give meaning and value to the acquisition of citizenship.
"I believe it is fundamentally important that people living in the UK on a permanent basis should be able to take a full and active role in our society. We should value, promote and give real content to the acquisition of British nationality and the process of integration," he declared, citing evidence that migrants fluent in English were "20 per cent more likely to be employed than those lacking such skills".
In addition to a certain standard of language, future naturalisation applicants would also be asked to demonstrate knowledge of British society and institutions, so "helping us secure integration with diversity".
The former Labour MP, Mr Tony Benn, said the proposals amounted to a revival of nationalism.
However, Mr Blunkett was unrepentant in his embrace of policies plainly designed to reverse the drift to segregation. For too long, he said, immigration, nationality and asylum policies had been seen as separate areas operating on different levels for different people. But this ignored "the reality of the world we live in" and the need to integrate those coming to the UK as economic migrants, asylum-seekers or new citizens. "To welcome others who need our protection or have a contribution to make to our society, we must be secure within a shared sense of belonging and identity. Strong civic and community foundations are necessary if we are to secure integration with diversity."
The White Paper proposes a crackdown on "sham" marriages, with an extension of the probationary period for marriage from one to two years, which Mr Blunkett said would help the problem of abusive and forced marriages as well as fraud.
It also includes plans for an American-style "Green Card" system, making it easier for people filling a gap in the workforce to remain in the UK, and new 14-year penalties for People Trafficking, including the sexual exploitation of women, and for persons facilitating illegal entry. Mr Blunkett heralded a new "end-to- end" process for dealing with asylum-seekers.
The Home Secretary also announced the setting-up of a "new overseas gateway for refugees", under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, to provide safe and legitimate routes of entry for genuine asylum-seekers as an alternative to the "perilous journeys" presently undertaken by so many to enter Britain illegally.
KEY PROPOSALS
a new citizenship pledge, modernising the current oath of allegiance sworn by those taking British nationality; tests for English-language skills and knowledge of British institutions and society; resettlement scheme operated by the UNHCR