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Citizenship points plan launched Citizenship points plan launched
(about 2 hours later)
Immigrants hoping to settle permanently in the UK would have to earn points towards citizenship under proposals being outlined by the home secretary. People who want to become British citizens could speed it up by becoming active members of political parties and trade unions, under government plans.
Alan Johnson says while qualifications and skills could earn points "bad behaviour" would be "penalised". Migrants would have to earn points for citizenship under the new system rather than getting an automatic right to apply for citizenship after five years.
Minister Phil Woolas said it would "break the link" between temporary migration and permanent citizenship. They could also lose points for "bad behaviour" which it has been suggested could include anti-war demonstrations.
The Tories said there had never been an "automatic right to British citizenship and dismissed the plans as "pure spin". The Conservatives dismissed the plans as "pure spin".
Migrants who have worked in the UK for five years have had the automatic right to apply for a British passport, which Mr Woolas said was usually granted. Migrants who have worked in the UK for five years have had the automatic right to apply for a British passport, which, immigration minister Phil Woolas told the BBC, was usually granted.
Soldier protests 'Active citizens'
But in future, under the measures in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill which became law in July, migrants will have to spend five years as temporary residents, before becoming "probationary citizens".But in future, under the measures in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill which became law in July, migrants will have to spend five years as temporary residents, before becoming "probationary citizens".
They can then earn full citizenship by earning points - a process which is expected to take between a further one and five years.They can then earn full citizenship by earning points - a process which is expected to take between a further one and five years.
Monday's consultation will look at how points can be earned through activities like working, paying taxes, voluntary work and learning English. A consultation document published on Monday seeks views on how those points might be earned.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
It says the government's "initial thinking" is that volunteering and "civic activism" - such as being a school governor or "contributing to the democratic life of the country through trade union activities or canvassing for a political party" - could speed up the process.
"Active citizens will be able to speed up their journey through probationary citizenship and become a British citizen after one year rather than three," it says.
Refugees and spouses of migrants already in the UK will have their points assessed on "the basis of their continuing family relationship or protection needs".
'More challenging' test
But economic migrants would face a new points test, which would take into account the UK's economic needs.
The government suggests extra points could be earned by those who head to Scotland, or other areas "in need of further immigration".
Earning potential, special artistic or scientific skills, qualifications, occupations and English language abilities could also be rewarded.
This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control Damian GreenShadow immigration minister
There may also be a new test, which includes the existing citizenship test focussing on practical information about life in the UK but also includes "more challenging topics such as the historical and political context at the British citizenship stage".
Points could be lost by those where "an active disregard for UK values is demonstrated", the government suggests, while inviting views on what "attributes" might gain or lose points.
In an interview with the News of the World, Alan Johnson said, as well as earning points, they could be lost through "bad behaviour".In an interview with the News of the World, Alan Johnson said, as well as earning points, they could be lost through "bad behaviour".
A points-based scheme is already in place for migrants from outside the EU applying to work or study temporarily in the UK. Amid reports that could include taking part in protests at soldiers' homecoming parades - Mr Woolas told the BBC he did not want to comment about "specific instances".
Mr Woolas told the BBC applying those principles to citizenship would be better for migrants and Britain. Benefits access
Amid reports "bad behaviour" could include taking part in protests at soldiers' homecoming parades - he said he did not want to comment about "specific instances". But he added: "As a point of principle... if you don't break the law and you are a citizen, that's fine.
'No man's land'
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."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." "This is what America does, it is what France does, it's what other countries do and we think we should do the same."
This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control Damian GreenShadow immigration minister class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYI'd imagine that half the native population would fail their own citizenship testLeanne B, Nuneaton class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6831">Send us your comments
Mr Woolas added full access to benefits, currently allowed for non-citizens on indefinite leave to remain, was "wrong". Mr Woolas added full access to benefits, currently allowed for non-citizens on indefinite leave to remain, was "wrong" and would "not exist for future migrants coming into the country".
"That no man's land would not exist for future migrants coming into the country," he said.
But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said there had never been an automatic right to citizenship.But Conservative immigration spokesman Damian 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". Chris Huhne for the Lib Dems said it would only deal with legal migration and accused the government of having "no idea how to deal with the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants living here".
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYI'd imagine that half the native population would fail their own citizenship testLeanne B, Nuneaton class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6831">Send us your comments Barring people for "unpatriotic behaviour" made it look "as if the government wants to play the thought police", he added.
The chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, Keith Best, told the BBC the proposals would make immigration more complicated. Keith Best, chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, told the BBC the proposals would make immigration more complicated.
He added it would be "somewhat bizarre" if protests against government action impeded people's citizenship applications. A points-based scheme is already in place for migrants from outside the EU applying to work or study temporarily in the UK.
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'." Mr Woolas told the BBC applying those principles to citizenship would be better for migrants and Britain.