Citizenship scheme seen as more secure - but obstacles exist

Dozens of people in North Lanarkshire became British citizens last year after swearing allegiance to the Queen at special citizenship ceremonies, figures reveal.

The events, organised by the local authority itself are the final step in the process to full citizenship and being able to obtain a British passport.

But with ceremonies indefinitely suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, migrant rights campaigners say applicants across the country are stuck “in limbo”.

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Home Office figures show 83 people attended citizenship ceremonies in North Lanarkshire in 2019.

This was a drop on the 96 the year before, bringing the total for the last decade to around 1,000.

Participants are asked to make an oath of allegiance to the Queen and pledge to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK.

Jill Rutter, director of strategy at the think tank British Future said: “Citizenship ceremonies do really matter. They mark the end of a long and expensive process, and the start of an enhanced feeling of belonging to the country people have chosen to call home.

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“We should restart citizenship ceremonies as soon as it is safe.”

In the longer term, British Future want the UK to review its approach to citizenship, by reducing the “highest fees in the Western world” and cutting red tape.

Romanian national Alexandra Bulat, a project manager at the think tank, says she has paid more than £1,300 in application fees for her British citizenship but is still waiting for her ceremony to take place.

She said: “It all feels like you’re still in limbo because the process is still not complete. The main reason a lot of EU citizens apply is to feel more secure, because they don’t with the Settlement Scheme.

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A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We are actively looking at alternative, safe ways to reinstate such important occasions.”

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