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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reform person says I'm not necessarily British although born in UK. How can I tell?

136 replies

PaperBlueCornflower · 27/01/2026 18:43

How can I tell if I and my children are British according to their definition?

If I might turn out not to be, and DS might turn out not to be could I be thrown out? Where to?

AIBU to be puzzled and a bit worried?

After all a lot of people seem to think Reform will be the next government.

OP posts:
Query12 · 27/01/2026 19:10

It is already the case that someone born in the UK is not necessarily British. If both their parents are not British they might not be British

NotThatSerious · 27/01/2026 19:10

I would hope to be thrown out 🤣 this country is a mess

InterestedDad37 · 27/01/2026 19:10

BlueJuniper94 · 27/01/2026 19:04

Brits absolutely do tolerate authoritarianism

Show quote history

In some ways, but not the blatant sort.

Ohthatsabitshit · 27/01/2026 19:09

Where you born after 1984?

LarkspurLane · 27/01/2026 19:09

PaperBlueCornflower · 27/01/2026 19:04

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/27/matthew-goodwin-gorton-and-denton-reform-uk-minorities

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This man has not even been elected and is not the favourite in the by-election.
Almost half of is constituency would fit his ethnic minorities stance.

Wait til he gets in at least before getting too worried.

Original poster
PaperBlueCornflower · 27/01/2026 19:09

FruAashild · 27/01/2026 18:50

I wouldn't worry, there's 3 and a half years till the next election, that's a very long time indeed in politics. And if Reforms were to win and they were to start throwing out British nationals because of their skin colour I can't see them lasting very long.

🤞🏼

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 27/01/2026 19:08

Have you ever been Morris Dancing ?

Do you know what a May Pole is for ?

Have you shinned up any lampposts recently ?

Who do you support at Cricket ?

Original poster
PaperBlueCornflower · 27/01/2026 19:07

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/01/2026 18:56

Do you like Marmite?

Do you like Marmalade?

Do you make a good cup of tea which doesn’t involve the microwave?

Do you complain about the weather?

Do you complain about the tv?

Do you complain in general?

I’m so sorry but you’re British. No escape from it.

Yes,yes, yes, not really but I do converse on the topic quite willingly, no, unfortunately I no longer partake, up to a point but room for improvement.

Many thanks, most helpful.

OP posts:
Boxoffrogs21 · 27/01/2026 19:07

InterestedDad37 · 27/01/2026 18:51

They may get in, which I can't believe I'm actually writing, but they won't last 5 minutes, and Brits will simply not accept any attempts at authoritarianism - we'll just laugh in their faces, and riot them out of town 👍

That’s what the Americans said, but it turns out that the majority seem to be quite happily letting it happen or at least turning a blind eye…

Clearinguptheclutter · 27/01/2026 19:07

If you consider yourself British that’s good enough for me

I get the angst though

curtaintwitcher78 · 27/01/2026 19:05

Pollqueen · 27/01/2026 18:48

This sounds a bit hysterical 🤣

Why would you laugh at someone's worry?

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 27/01/2026 19:04

I guess you are thinking we are going to go exactly the same way as the US. We won’t. We have a massive human rights legal system here, so there’s no way they would be able to push through the kind of policies Trump has pushed through. Stop worrying.

BlueJuniper94 · 27/01/2026 19:04

InterestedDad37 · 27/01/2026 18:51

They may get in, which I can't believe I'm actually writing, but they won't last 5 minutes, and Brits will simply not accept any attempts at authoritarianism - we'll just laugh in their faces, and riot them out of town 👍

Brits absolutely do tolerate authoritarianism

OP posts:
imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 27/01/2026 19:03

British passports are an interesting one. I started the application process for DC and me before covid. I was going to do theirs first as they were cheaper. Only they didnt automatically qualify. Neither do I as we were born after 1982/3 (can't remember exactly). Their father was, but refused to help. They said they could use our marriage certificate, we weren't married. So they needed my parents marriage certificate, they are divorced. I was almost glad when covid happened and the abroad holiday was cancelled.

Despite being born here (as were ancestors on both sides going back a few hundred years) we don't automatically qualify.

Original poster
PaperBlueCornflower · 27/01/2026 19:02

Pollqueen · 27/01/2026 18:48

This sounds a bit hysterical 🤣

I know! But it's true, in the newspaper and everything!

Whatever do you think they have in mind?

OP posts:
Original poster
PaperBlueCornflower · 27/01/2026 19:01

No passport, DS no passport DD British passport.

One of my parents was born in the UK.

Thank you @NoCommentingFromNowOn Isleworth it is. Bit pricey.

OP posts:
NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/01/2026 18:57

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2026 18:55

Well clearly OP, you "go back to where you came from".

Obviously.

So whatever it says on your British Passport for town of birth...

Ha ha reminds me of that video with a woman on the tube who was told to go back to where she came from, and she said ‘I’m from Clapham’ or something 😆.

DamnUserName21 · 27/01/2026 18:56

NeedSleepNowww · 27/01/2026 18:53

Depends on when you were born. My parents had ILR when I was born in the late 80s but I didn’t become a British citizen until the mid 90s. My younger brother did, however, become British at birth.

If you have a British passport, you are British OP. You may not be ethnically English, etc but you are British.

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Quite right. I was unclear when it had changed.

OP, having a British passport does not necessarily mean you are British citizen as they can state 'British Overseas National' or 'British Subject' and perhaps over things.

My grandfather (Irish) had a British passport, which stated he was a British Subject...he was not a citizen.

It can be quite confusing!

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/01/2026 18:56

Do you like Marmite?

Do you like Marmalade?

Do you make a good cup of tea which doesn’t involve the microwave?

Do you complain about the weather?

Do you complain about the tv?

Do you complain in general?

I’m so sorry but you’re British. No escape from it.

CarefullyCuratedFurniture · 27/01/2026 18:55

The first mistake you made was giving any credibility to something said by a Reform "politician ". They're a bunch of chancers, appealing to the LCD. I had a read-through of their manifesto, and really couldn't work out the costings. Like, there weren't any.

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2026 18:55

Well clearly OP, you "go back to where you came from".

Obviously.

So whatever it says on your British Passport for town of birth...

StarlightRobot · 27/01/2026 18:53

What have they said now? I don’t understand the context here- has something new been announced!

NeedSleepNowww · 27/01/2026 18:53

DamnUserName21 · 27/01/2026 18:50

What was the immigration status of your parent's when you were born? They need to have ILR, I believe, at the time of your birth for you to have British citizenship.

There is no automatic British citizenship at birth like the US.

Depends on when you were born. My parents had ILR when I was born in the late 80s but I didn’t become a British citizen until the mid 90s. My younger brother did, however, become British at birth.

If you have a British passport, you are British OP. You may not be ethnically English, etc but you are British.