New rules for immigrants to Britain

Associated Press

LONDON — Having spread English around the globe, Britain now wants to insist the language be spoken here by immigrants seeking citizenship.

Home Secretary David Blunkett proposed an immigration overhaul Thursday that he said would tighten the rules without making the country a fortress against new arrivals.

A key element is teaching immigrants what it means to be British — and they can do it by learning to speak Welsh if they choose.

Blunkett proposed requiring would-be citizens to show they’ve passed a language test, and official sensitivity to nationalistic feeling in Scotland and Wales means Gaelic and Welsh are given the same status as English.

Practically speaking, the proposal amounts to an English requirement. The proposal brought opposition from some immigrant advocate groups who feared it will bar some would-be citizens and stoke anti-immigrant sentiment.

The law already says immigrants should have a command of one of the three languages before gaining citizenship, but Blunkett said the provision is rarely enforced.

"I believe it is fundamentally important that people living in the U.K. on a permanent basis should be able to take a full and active role in our society," he said. "To encourage this, we will ask that applicants for naturalization demonstrate a certain standard of language."

Would-be citizens would also have to show a basic knowledge of British values and institutions, but Blunkett gave no details of what that would entail. The plan must be approved by Parliament to become law.

The United States has similar language and American history requirements for naturalized citizens.

Blunkett also hopes to make citizenship more meaningful by holding swearing-in ceremonies instead of just sending new citizens their passports by mail.

Immigrants would recite a proposed new oath that keeps a pledge of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II but adds a profession of loyalty to "the rights and freedoms of the United Kingdom" and "its democratic values."