Labour grandee expresses concern over rule small boat refugees can’t claim citizenship

A Labour grandee has expressed concern over new guidance to prevent people who arrive in the UK illegally from getting British citizenship.

An update to the Home Office’s guidance for caseworkers, entitled Nationality: Good Character Requirement, states that anyone applying for British citizenship from Monday who arrived in the UK illegally “will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place”.

On Wednesday afternoon, former home secretary Lord Blunkett was granted a rare urgent question in the upper chamber on the topic.

He said: “Will [the minister on duty] ask the home secretary to reflect on the societal and cohesion aspects of this policy, the impact on children and their right to UK citizenship and the statelessness which would arise for individuals if their birth country refused to renew or retain their nationality?”

Lord Blunkett added: “Surely this parliament should have a say in such a big change.”

Home Office minister Lord Hanson responded: “He will know that the proposals today are about illegal entry to the United Kingdom and do not affect rightful citizenship applications for people who are entering the UK legally.

“In terms of those who are stateless and at risk of losing citizenship for people who do qualify, there is a stateless leave provision and they can apply for that and children again will be considered sympathetically on the existing legislation.”

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