People born before 1983 to British mothers

Sigh. So the saga continues. There is still no equality regarding British citizenship via British mothers.

I've been waiting for news announcing the results of committee meetings by the House of Commons and the House of Lords regarding proposed changes to the requirements for British citizenship via British mothers. Thanks to Michael Turberville, I learned that the House of Commons committee meeting was on 1 Nov, and the House of Lords meeting was 17 Nov to remove the fee of £550. Michael shares this exciting news on his website: The exemption to the fee for 4C applications will then come into effect on the 22 November.

I should be very pleased, right? Well, initially it does indeed sound like very good news however it turns out we are still not being granted automatic British citizenship via our British mothers! I learned this from an anonymous comment on my blog - The fee has been eliminated but the citizenship ceremony fee remains (£80).

This is the latest official news from the Home Office about this change to the law:
Registration of people born before 1983 to British mothers

19 November 2010
From Monday 22 November 2010 those applying under this section will not be required to pay an application fee for registration. Those who are applying in the UK will still need to pay an administrative fee of £80, as this is forwarded to the local authority to cover the administrative cost of a citizenship ceremony. The £80 administrative fee should be paid when making the application, but will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful. Those applying overseas will be required to pay a consular fee.

So the discrimination continues! We are expected to make an application and pay a fee for a citizenship ceremony and attend the ceremony. We still don't have 100% parity with the children of British father's. If my father had been British, citizenship would be automatic - no registration required, no fee at all and no ceremony!

By the way, my mother is a British war bride. The majority of people affected by this change in the law are children of British war brides. It's disgusting that the UK is still refusing to give us our right to automatic citizenship. Why are we being treated as second-class citizens?

I'm entitled to automatic citizenship via my British mother - that is citizenship without any conditions. This latest news is just changing the amount of the fee, and it was never just about the money! It's a matter of equality. The administrative fee of £80 to cover the administrative cost of a citizenship ceremony, is ridiculous! Why are we required to attend a ceremony? The citizenship ceremony is for immigrants who seek to become British citizens. The children of British mothers are not immigrants!

I'm also outraged to read that the £80 administrative fee...will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful, which implies that we are still having to apply for our right to citizenship and that we can be denied! The word, application seems to me to be the same as registration. It's blatatant discrimination to require an application (which can be denied) and the ceremony (which is for immigrants!).

Why are we still being denied our right to automatic British citizenship?

Edited to add: For your information - via the UK Home Office website:

Applicants for British citizenship use application Form UKM
"Registration as a British citizen by certain persons born before 1983 to British mothers"
Notice it states: Application for registration as a British citizen by a person born before 1983 to a British mother
Completing the application form (note the required information on Form UKM before approval for citizenship!)

Yes, the fee has been greatly reduced but we are required to register - and then (possibly) be approved for British citizenship before attending the required ceremony (which is for foreigners without a British parent). Blatant discrimination!

Related posts from my blog:
Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers
British Citizenship - discrimination
Guardian's Liberty Clinic - query about British citizenship

Related blog post via Jims Blog :
UK Continues to discriminate against children of female British citizens

Harriet Harman and her 'ginger rodent' jibe

Did you know there is an ongoing prejudice in the UK against red hair or ginger as the Brits call it? It's hard to believe that children get teased and bullied at school simply because of their hair colour but it's true. This prejudice, called gingerism in the UK, is supposedly not as prevalent as it once was but it's still around.

Indeed, gingerism became the talking point everywhere today because of a shocking insult made by the former deputy prime minister, Harriet Harman. Speaking at the Labour party's Scottish conference she called the Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander a "ginger rodent". Now this would be bad enough on its own but it's much worse when you consider that Harriet Harman is a former equalities minister! Also, she didn't just make the insult up in the spur of the moment - it was a scripted speech!



I think Harriet Harman's jibe is shocking! Name-calling is childish and a form of bullying. I know politics can be harsh but resorting to personal insults is shameful. I'm sure parents of ginger-haired children don't find Harriet Harman's choice of words at all amusing! How can parents teach their children to accept others no matter what they look like after Ms Harman makes a speech containing such an obvious slur against people with ginger hair? Yes, Harriet Harman has apologised since it became such big news today but the damage has been done. Children with ginger hair in the UK will continue to be the brunt of cruel jokes and the target of bullies. It will only stop when everyone makes it clear that it's not okay to make fun of ginger hair. In my opinion, gingerism is never acceptable.

Do you think her jibe was just a harmless joke? This is what I've been reading from Labour supporters on twitter.

What are your thoughts about the incident? 

British Citizenship - discrimination

The UK government continues to discriminate against children born abroad to British female citizens and children of unmarried British male citizens.

Why isn't a legitimate claim to British citizenship by descent, automatic for all children of a British parent?

I was born abroad to an English mother but to be eligible for British citizenship, the law states that I will have to register and pay a fee of £540 to claim my British citizenship by descent.  However, if I had been born abroad to a British father (or if I was younger) my entitlement to citizenship would have been automatic!

There has been an ongoing campaign over the years to get this inequality corrected but despite a succession of petitions and promises made by various politicians, very little has changed.

Since the change in Government following the General Election, I have written to the new Home Secretary, Theresa May about this unjustified discrimination regarding British citizenship by descent. I asked her if the new Government will follow up on this issue and put an end to this blatant discrimination. I have not had a reply. It's worth noting that Theresa May is also the Minister for Women and Equality!

I also wrote to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the blatant age and sex discrimination and I was informed by EHRC that;

"Acts of Parliament are included in the Table of Exceptions from the Sex Discrimination Act"
and
"Age discrimination would also not apply as this only currently applies to employment and education."

So much for the Equality and Human Rights Commission! They don't help at all even though this is blatant discrimination! What about equality and what about our human rights?!

I am asking for my readers to help.

'Your Freedom' http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/ is a new website from the Coalition Government where you are invited to submit your "ideas" for laws that should be scrapped or amended.

I have submitted my idea regarding Nationality via British mother and tsprague submitted this idea: Allow Illegitimate Children Citizenship Through Their British Fathers

Please leave a comment to support the ideas via the above links. The Coalition Government needs to know that the British public will not accept this blatant discrimination!

I would also be very grateful if you would sign the latest petition:

British Citizenship for persons born abroad to British Mothers and Fathers
http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/british-nationality.html
Children of British Citizens Who are females and Children of Unmarried British Males should be given their equal rights to automatic nationality rather then have to pay fees, undergo good character tests, and ceremonies on the same basis as others born later who are automatically citizens.

It is time for the law to be amended so that the right to nationality via British mothers or British fathers is exactly the same.

Related posts:

Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers
Guardian's Liberty Clinic - query about British citizenship
People born before 1983 to British mothers

Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers

The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 came into force today (13 January 2010) which means I finally "have a right to register as a British citizen" but I will have to pay £540 to claim my British citizenship by descent!

This new law does not allow UK mothers to pass on citizenship to their children regardless of where or when they were born. It requires all those born abroad to a UK mother prior to 1983 to register with the UKBA and pay an exorbitant fee (presently £540) before they can apply for a UK passport. Anyone born in the same circumstances after 1983 or at anytime to a UK father can simply complete a passport application without the need to register and without a fee.

All British women are not equal. My British mother couldn't pass her citizenship to me until today - and it doesn't mean I am automatically British. I have to 'register' and pay £540 and attend a British citizenship ceremony before I can gain my British citizenship.

And it's worth noting that registration can be rejected. The right to register as a British citizen does not guarantee that an application will be approved.

Why isn't a legitimate claim to British citizenship by descent, automatic? Why are we considered less equal to the same right that others can claim? Does this inequality mean that we are second-class British citizens?

It is disgraceful that I (and others in the same situation) will have to register and pay for our right to British citizenship by descent. The British government made us wait all these years for the unfair law to be amended and then decided we are still not equal to children of British fathers.

Many British women who gave birth abroad were war brides (my mum was one). Shouldn't their children have the same right to British citizenship by descent as the children of British fathers do?

The Members of Parliament have passed a Bill that blatantly discriminates against British mothers and their children. And shockingly, the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill - with its blatant gender and age discrimination - has now become law.

If you are BRITISH (British expats can sign too!) or a British resident you can help stop the gender and age discrimination! Add your name to this petition:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/UKmothers/

Related posts:
People born before 1983 to British mothers

British Citizenship - discrimination
Guardian's Liberty Clinic - query about British citizenship

The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill

I've been glued to the TV this afternoon and evening watching the MPs as they are discussing amendments to the the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill. The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill transfers 4,500 HM Revenue and Customs officers to the UK Borders Agency and introduces a requirement for immigrants to earn British citizenship. It's also making important changes in the law to give British nationality to people born before February 1961 whose mothers were born in the UK. This is the part of the bill that will directly affect me since my mother is British and I was born in the USA before 1961: Children of British mothers - proposed changes to law on citizenship A person who has a British mother currently has a right to register as a British citizen under section 4C of the British Nationality Act 1981 if: he or she was born between 7 February 1961 and 1 January 1983; and he or she would have become a British citizen if women had been able to pass on citizenship in the same way as men at that time. The Government has proposed changes to the law, to allow people born before the 1961 date to British mothers to be registered as British citizens. These proposals are set out in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill which is currently being debated in Parliament. If successful, this Bill will extend the provisions of section 4C of the British Nationality Act 1981 to those born before 1961. This amendment should correct this discriminatory law, however in reality, it doesn't since there is a registration fee of £540 to claim my British citizenship by descent. If my father had been British and/or I was younger, I would automatically have been granted my British citizenship (without paying a fee) so why should I have to now pay a fee to claim what should be my right? The bill is very convoluted with a lot of different issues, not just the particular one that I'm concerned about. The bill is so huge that it should have been divided up into separate bills. And there should be much more time allowed to discuss each point properly, rather than trying to rush through the reading in one day. Phil Woolas (Minister of State for borders and immigration) outlined his proposals for the "transitional arrangements" for those already with Indefinite Leave to Remain (or having applied for ILR). The commencement date for the changeover from the present system to the new "probationary citizenship" pathway is July 2011. He proposed that those on ILR (or having applied for it) at that time will be able to apply for citizenship under the old rules. I noticed that Chris Huhne (Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department) made some very scathing remarks about this bill: "This bill proves that quantity does not equal quality" "...inaccessible and ill thoughtout" "...a pudding without a theme" "...it's piecemeal legislation that results in many anomalies and inconsistencies" "...jigsaw puzzle legislation" "Another trust me, I'm a minister bill" "...a hotchpotch of provisions." And Damian Green (the shadow immigration minister) said there was "Severe disappointment" about this bill. Indeed, I agree with that view! This is the third reading of this bill. I listened intently to the discussion and after all that time and effort, at 10pm the speaker announced that there isn't supposed to be debate after 10pm. So it looks like they will have to continue the debate another day. It was obvious that they were really trying to rush the bill through today. It sure doesn't seem like the right way to go about making changes to laws. Related post from my blog: Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill: Children of British mothers (lots of comments from people in the same situation)

Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill: Children of British mothers

There are important changes to citizenship rules in the news.

I am particularly interested in the part of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill that applies to children of British mothers (my mother is British):

Implement a firm but fair system - with measures including a new duty for the UKBA to safeguard the welfare of children; and to ensure fairness in nationality cases by removing the historical cut-off point for enabling children of British mothers born before 1961 to become British themselves, and enabling those serving overseas in the armed forces to register their children as British.

This means that children born to British mothers before 1961 (as I was) will be able to apply for citizenship.

This is obviously very welcome news but I'm annoyed that the law won't be changed immediately since it is so obviously discriminatory. Up until 2002, if you had a British father, you got a right to citizenship, but not if you had a British mother. In 2002, they changed that law, but only backdated it to 1961. How on earth they got away with such a discriminatory law to begin with is truly baffling. And even now, it is going to take more time to change the archaic law and make the nationality system fair!

This is from the Home Office website:

Children of British mothers

There have been reports of a change in the law to give British nationality to people born before February 1961 whose mothers were born in the UK. In fact, any change will not take place before late 2009 and the people concerned will need to register with the UK Border Agency before becoming eligible for a passport.

At present, only children born on or after 1st January 1983 can automatically be British solely because of their mother's birth in the UK.


Related posts from my blog:
Children of British mothers: proposed changes to citizenship law!
Guardian's Liberty Clinic - query about British citizenship
Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers
An Open Letter to my Readers

Children of British mothers: proposed changes to citizenship law!

My mother is British but I haven't been able to claim British citizenship because the law as it stands, discriminates based on gender and age. The 2002 Nationality and Immigration Act allows the foreign-born children of British women born after 7 Feb 1961 to register as citizens. I was born before that date so I am being discriminated against due to my age, and my mother is being discriminated against because of her gender since British men can pass on their citizenship no matter when their child was born. Last year, an American lady who lives in England (and has a British mother like I do), started a petition - which I signed of course - to try and get the 2002 NIA changed to remove the gender and age discrimination - but sadly her attempt didn't succeed. Since then, I have been putting off applying for British citizenship because I was considering doing my own political/legal battle about this blatant age and gender discrimination when lo and behold, I found (fantastic!) news on the Home Office (The UK Border Agency) website Children of British mothers - proposed changes : The government plans to introduce an amendment to allow people born before the 1961 date to register under this section. The proposals will be introduced in the Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill in December 2008. The Bill will be debated in Parliament from December and so, if this proposal becomes law, it is unlikely to come into effect until late 2009. Okay, it will take a while to go through Parliament but still, I am thrilled! The fees* to apply for British citizenship are quite expensive (and I resent the idea since my mother is English) so I will wait for this law to be changed and then I will acquire British citizenship by descent. I'm entitled to it! *The required Life in the UK Test costs £34 , and the application for Naturalisation as a British citizen costs £655. Related post from my blog: Borders, Immigration & Citizenship Bill: Children of British mothers Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers