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 20 Feb Abbot opposes UK citizenship proposal
Diane Abbott, (pictured) the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has ridiculed proposals for tougher rules for non-EU immigrants in the UK.
Speaking this afternoon, after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had unveiled the proposals saying that future migrants would need to "earn" citizenship, Abbot said the policy would force non-European migrants to pay fees that would benefit European migrants.
She said: "How can it be fair for non-white immigrants to have already steep fees ratcheted even higher to pay for issues which relate to the broad immigrant population including immigrants from the EU countries?"
Elements of the proposal will require that non-EU immigrants who want to become British and settle permanently in the UK will need to pass more tests to "prove their worth."
Some migrants may also have to pay into a fund towards public services and have a period of "probationary citizenship," probably up to six years.
In a radio interview this afternoon, Jacqui Smith denied the proposal was unfair to citizens of the Commonwealth who account for a significant number of non-EU immigrants living in the UK.
She said: “I certainly do not think this is a racist proposal. This builds on reforms we are already making to ensure that those who come to the UK benefit the UK. There are lots of benefits associated with being a British citizen.”
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK should expect a "demonstration of commitment" and the process of becoming a citizen should be "more exacting". The Tories called the plans, which do not cover EU citizens, a "gimmick".
The package of measures includes:
• Raising visa fees for a special "transitional impact" fund
• More English language testing ahead of nationality
• Requirements to prove integration into communities
• Increasing how long it takes to become British
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