The British Government has released proposals today to introduce a points system to decide who qualifies for British citizenship. Points will be awarded for civic involvement, such as joining community groups, political parties and trade unions, and for embracing British values. Points will be deducted for shunning these values, or for criminal behaviour.
Who decides which groups are worthy? Which will qualify the applicant for the most points? Whose values are those defined as British? Do the Scots, Welsh, Irish and English all have the same values? Does a working man in Manchester share the same values as a banker in London?
This idea is plainly flawed, and in some respects ridiculous. Plainly those seeking citizenship should embrace the general values of the society they seek to join, and certainly should not be opposed to them. But our society's values are so diverse and diffuse nowadays, that how can they be defined in such a manner. Who is the judge? And who the jury?
And intriguingly, how many current British citizens, British born or immigrant, would actually pass these tests?
20 hours ago
Might a suspicious Yank Quaker ask if this might be aimed at Muslims?
ReplyDeleteAustralian news reports say that taking part in a non-violent anti-war demonstration could lose points towards British citizenship, but many of us would see this as patriotic action, in the best interests of the country.
ReplyDeleteIndeed you might, fiddlinshim, indeed you might!
ReplyDelete