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'Tough' citizenship test outlined Citizenship points plan launched
(about 2 hours later)
Immigrants hoping to settle permanently in the UK would face tougher citizenship tests under proposals due to be outlined by the home secretary.Immigrants hoping to settle permanently in the UK would face tougher citizenship tests under proposals due to be outlined by the home secretary.
Alan Johnson says he wants behaviour as well as qualifications and skills taken into account in what have been called penalties on "un-British" activity. Alan Johnson says while qualifications and skills could earn points "bad behaviour" would be "penalised".
His words have been seen as a warning to those taking part in activities such as protests at soldiers' parades. Minister Phil Woolas said it would "break the link between temporary migrancy and settlement".
But Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green said the plan was "pure spin". The Tories said there had never been an "automatic right to British citizenship and dismissed the plans as "pure spin".
'Bad behaviour' Under the current system, migrants who have worked in the UK for five years have the automatic right to apply for a British passport, which Mr Woolas said was usually granted.
A consultation to be launched by Mr Johnson will look at proposals which would extend the current points scheme to those who want to become permanent UK citizens. Soldier protests
The home secretary has said those with a history of bad behaviour will not earn the necessary points to secure a British passport. The points scheme is already in place for temporary migrants from outside the EU who want to work in the UK.
The consultation being published on Monday will give further details of plans to extend that system to applications for permanent UK citizenship.
If someone is applying to be a citizen to our country we do think that you should not only obey the law but show you are committed to our country Phil Woolas Immigration minister
Amid reports that it could mean behaviour considered unpatriotic - such as taking part in protests at soldiers' homecoming parades - would be penalised, he said he did not want to comment about "specific instances".
But he told the BBC: "As a point of principle... if you don't break the law and you are a citizen, that's fine.
"But if someone is applying to be a citizen to our country we do think that you should not only obey the law but show you are committed to our country.
"This is what America does, it is what France does it's what other countries do and we think we should do the same."
'No man's land'
He added full access to benefits, currently allowed for non-citizens on indefinite leave to remain, was "wrong".
"That no man's land would not exist for future migrants coming into the country," he said.
This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control Damian GreenShadow immigration ministerThis is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control Damian GreenShadow immigration minister
A points-based system to assess whether migrants from outside the EU have the necessary skills to work and study in the UK has been in place for more than a year. But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said there had never been an automatic right to citizenship.
Under the present arrangements, applicants are assessed on their experience, ability to speak English and whether they can fill skills gaps in the economy.
Mr Johnson has claimed the tougher criteria will reduce the number of migrants.
Writing in Sunday's News of the World, he said: "Bad behaviour will be penalised, and only those with enough points will earn the right to a British passport.
"No longer will there be an automatic link between temporary work and becoming a permanent UK citizen."
'Population explosion'
But Mr Green said there had never been an automatic right to citizenship.
He added: "It is simply that this government that has let an unprecedented number of people obtain citizenship, issuing someone with a British passport every five minutes.He added: "It is simply that this government that has let an unprecedented number of people obtain citizenship, issuing someone with a British passport every five minutes.
"This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control for more than a decade.""This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control for more than a decade."
Labour MP and former minister Frank Field said it was important to limit the number of immigrants gaining UK citizenship, or the country faced a "population explosion".Labour MP and former minister Frank Field said it was important to limit the number of immigrants gaining UK citizenship, or the country faced a "population explosion".
"One in must be matched by one out in future," he told the BBC. The chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, Keith Best, told the BBC the proposals would make immigration more complicated.
The chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, Keith Best, told the Today programme the proposals would make immigration "more complicated". He added it would be "somewhat bizarre" if protests against government action impeded people's citizenship applications.
He added: "Anybody who becomes a citizen of this country needs to demonstrate that they're prepared to abide by our ways and our norms and our ethics." He said: "I would be very surprised if the government would say to probationary citizens: 'You need to curtail your freedom of speech as a probationary citizen in order to be able to enjoy it fully once you become a British citizen'."
Migration control
Mr Best also referred to speculation that bad behaviour could hinder an applicant's attempt to gain citizenship.
"It's going to be somewhat bizarre if your path to citizenship is impeded by undertaking behaviour such as protesting against government action, when in fact becoming a citizen is one of the things that actually will be one of the attributes of being a British citizen, that you are capable of protesting."
A Home Office spokesman said the points-based system had been a "powerful tool" in controlling migration for the benefit of the UK public and the economy.
He added: "New laws require migrants to earn citizenship by playing by the rules, speaking English and contributing to the community.
"We intend to consult on how we can further strengthen these reforms and provide flexibility for the government to respond to the changing economic needs of the country."