Author: Ishara Bhasi
Publication: India Today
Date: September 22, 2003
Who is British? What is Britishness?
These are questions that have been plaguing the Home Office and it is trying
hard to set down some rules for wannabe British citizens. A new proposal
by a government advisory group-Life in the United Kingdom Advisory Panel
chaired by scholar Bernard Crick-has proposed that immigrants should pass
a new "Britishness test" in which they have to master English and history.
Those who fail the test can continue to reside in the country but will
not get a passport or be able to vote.
Other than the language test, aspiring
citizens will have to answer questions like 'Who is the prime minister?
How do you pay a telephone bill? What do the main political parties stand
for?' and so on to assess their understanding of British history and way
of life.
However, Home Secretary David Blunkett
said, "Knowing the six wives of Henry VIII doesn't constitute being a good
citizen." But understanding the structures of Britain would contribute
to that goal, he added. Blunkett said he wanted to encourage people who
are permanently settled in this country to apply for citizenship here.
The Opposition has given its nod to the proposals but a straw poll conducted
by The Guardian shows that immigrants clearly haven't given their nod yet.
