Brown suggests voluntary work for immigrants
Tuesday, 27 Feb 2007 20:40
Gordon Brown has extended his citizenship calls
Gordon Brown has called for immigrants applying for citizenship to undergo a period of voluntary work.
Addressing a seminar on Britishness at the Commonwealth club in London, the chancellor said he believed his view that a knowledge of the English language and the country's "history and culture" were vital for immigrants was now widely accepted.
But he went further than on previous occasions when discussing the issue, having reiterated his conviction that national identity was becoming more and more important to Britons.
"I believe when there is now so much mobility between nations and countries… we should emphasise that British citizenship is about more than a test, more than a ceremony - it is a kind of contract between the citizen and the country, involving rights and responsibilities that will protect and enhance the British way of life," he said.
"In any national debate about the future of citizenship I believe it is… right to consider asking men and women seeking citizenship to undertake some community work in our country or something akin to that that introduces them to a wider range of institutions and people in our country prior to enjoying the benefits of citizenship."
As Mr Brown is widely expected to take over the premiership from Tony Blair once the latter steps down before this autumn, his opinion on the matter is likely to have a significant bearing on future government policy.
But Conservative shadow home secretary David Davies rejected Mr Brown's proposals, saying his proposals were merely "a headline-grabbing initiative of very little substance".
"Gordon Brown's proposals are ill-thought out and could be actually damaging," he said.
"It is not that long since a minister lost her job after allowing citizenship applications to be granted without the proper passport checks being carried out.
"Gordon Brown should concentrate on remedying that, and answering our call to establish a dedicated UK border police - measures that will actually get a grip on the problems in the immigration service."