UK citizenship for record 164,000 foreigners

By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:21AM BST 21/05/2008

Record numbers of foreign nationals are being granted citizenship, according to figures published on Tuesday.

Home Office data showed that 164,635 people became British last year – a seven per cent rise in 12 months.

The total was the highest since the Home Office began keeping comparable records in 1997. It led to accusations that Labour has created a lax immigration regime.

More than nine in 10 people who applied for citizenship were accepted.

The biggest group was from India, who made up nine per cent of the total with 14,490. Filipinos constituted seven per cent with 10,840, Afghans six per cent with 10,555 and South Africans five per cent with 8,150.

A quarter of citizenships, about 41,000 were given to children, while about 29,000 became nationals through marriage.

Last year, 160,980 people applied for citizenship while 14,725 applications were refused. Of those, 2,365 were rejected because the applicants failed "citizenship tests" by not demonstrating a sufficient command of English and knowledge of life in Britain.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said that the figures were an indictment of Labour's management of the immigration system.

He said: "Given the Government's proven record at granting passports to people like Muktar Said Ibrahim - the July 21 ringleader - the public will be alarmed that passports are being handed out at such a rate.

"Given the Government's ineptitude, how can they guarantee they are being granted to suitable people? This shows why it is essential our border controls are tightened."

Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, insisted that the Government is making it harder to become a British citizen.

He said: "Only those with something to give can become a British citizen, including a mastery of English."

The figures also showed a 16 per cent rise in asylum applications in the first three months of this year to 6,595, compared with the same period last year.

The number of failed asylum seekers deported from January to March was down 13 per cent to 2,805, although the total number of people removed - including other categories of people such as foreign criminals - was up 12 per cent to 16,760.

More than 100,000 of the eastern Europeans who have come to Britain in recent years are claiming benefits, official figures showed on Tuesday.

Some 102,029 are receiving child benefit and an estimated 58,000 are receiving tax credits, Home Office data disclosed.

The figures also showed that the number of eastern Europeans who have applied to work in Britain since their countries joined the EU in 2004 has reached 845,000.

"Only those with something to give can become a British citizen, including a mastery of English."
Liam Byrne, immigration minister

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