UK migrants to face 'patriotic' citizenship test

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Migrants applying for a British passport will soon have to be able to recite the first verse of God Save the Queen, under an overhaul of the UK citizenship test this autumn.

They could also be tested on their knowledge of Winston Churchill, Lord Byron, Florence Nightingale and William Shakespeare, as well as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before they can qualify to become a British citizen.

The stronger emphasis on traditional British history is part of a move by the home secretary, Theresa May, to a more "patriotic guide" for migrants who want to settle in the UK before they can qualify for a passport.

May also wants to drop sections of the official Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship handbook, which explains things such as the Human Rights Act and how to claim welfare benefits and give details of managing everyday life such as reading the gas meter, getting home contents insurance or dealing with the local council.

Instead, Conservative ministers want to tell new migrants that Britain is "historically" a Christian country with a "long and illustrious history". The Sunday Times reports that a draft of the handbook includes profiles of historical characters including the Queen, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Alexander Fleming, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Emmeline Pankhurst, Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy and poets such as Robert Browning and Lord Byron.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/01/uk-migrants-patriotic-citizenship-test

[MichaelMcGuire]

1. Pointless rubbish, May would be better spending time saving Mr O'Dwyer from 10 years in a US jail.

Than torturing poor immigrants with such irrelevant shit.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002882550

[may3rd]

2. God Save the Queen?

WHATS WRONG WITH HER NOW?

[dipsydoodle]

3. Should say National Anthem

.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Want a list?

[pam4water]

4. Beatles and the Rolling Stones... Silly Why not add the Sex Pistols version :P

[sakabatou]

5. *facepalm*

[and-justice-for-all]

6. This is new?

I thought most countries did this already. I do not see anything wrong with it, you should know about the country you are seeking citizenship in and they should be able to test one over it. From the currency in use to how the government is set up and functions.

[alp227]

10. True true, but the immigrant handbook is going to go jingoistic.

Basically forcing Christianity and monarchism down the throats of immigrants by implying that the UK is historically a Christian nation. That's essentially authoritarian conformity, far beyond the basic life skills for living in a nation.

Furthermore, contrary to the popular right wing claim that most immigrants do not assimilate, the UK press association wire also reported, "Ethnic minorities in UK feel most British, research finds".

[and-justice-for-all]

13. "forcing Christianity and monarchism down the throats of immigrants"

Yeah, that is rather vile. Why is the UK doing that?

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Because the Tories are in charge now

and either May likes 'traditional history' herself, or she wants to throw a bit of easy red meat to the Tory base. It's like insisting the USA is a Christian nation.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. The tune is the same as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee".

Teabaggers would claim the Brits ripped it off.

[boppers]

9. The Beatles? Rolling Stones?

Well, I guess it's true, conservatives are stuck in the world of their childhood.

Hint: Nobody will care about your favorite childhood rock band in 300 years.

[LibertyLover]

11. I don't have any problem with this

If you want to become a citizen of a country, you should know something about their history, their famous people and some of their culture. And, although I'm pagan, I also have no problem with immigrants being told that Britain is historically a Christian country given that the head of state is also the head of a major Christian sect. They certainly have a stronger claim to such a pronouncement than the US does. Given that the Queen has a strong interest in the Commonwealth, I hope that is on the test as well. Since I'm a US citizen by birth I have no idea what our citizenship test is like, but I would hope it covers similar topics. I'm tired of immigrants not assimilating and remaining out of the mainstream of a country's cultural and political life.

[and-justice-for-all]

14. See post #10...nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. She looks pretty damn save to me. "God attack the Queen." Now that

would make more sense. (Shamelessly borrowed from Eddie Izzard.)