Deported grandmother : what is the government trying to prove

[alwaysprepare]

There is a story of a woman originally from Singapore who lives here and has been married to a Brit for 27 years, they have 2 kids and a grandchild.
Her parents had been ill and she has spent the last few years going home to take care of them. They have now passed away. She had indefinite leave to remain which has been revoked and was apparently taken on a Sunday by authorities and sent to a detention centre before being put on a flight with £12 and the clothes on her back. Her husband is poorly after a heart bypass, I think it was.

You are not allowed to leave the country for a certain amount of time on the visa she has, but she probably needed to take care of ailing parents. Also Singapore does not Allow dual citizenship which maybe why she did not apply for UK passport as that probably would have been tricky for her parent emergencies etc.

We are no better than Trump.

Sorry cannot paste it right now, but it's on Google.

Naughty people?... you need to declare working abroad and there are restrictions on how many months per year in some cases as far as I am aware. No expert, but...

The form of citizenship oath and pledge for registration of or naturalisation as a British citizen is as follows:

Oath:
"I, [name], swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law."

Pretty sure I never have had to say that to live here.

It is reduced to a passport because they are a faff to change and you can not guarantee being able to do so in the future.

It is a BIG commitment. I think it is one that people should have to make if they intend to stay somewhere for a very long time.

It is a big decision akin to marriage.

Yes but unless you are silly you will just say it and get on with it. I like her, but don't believe in God. I would still say it for UK citizenship although I think it is a bit wierd.

Try getting Jeremy Corbyn to say it and you might struggle though hahaha!

Scottish you can leave the God bit out (but there's no way to bypass the royalist part)

Thats a standard oath. Corbyn has said it a lot given he is an MP ands its their oath (or affirmation as an atheist - bit about the Queen etc is the same).

Commitment to friends, family and community is far more real, meaningful and useful than expensive and controlled commitment to the state.

Xpost with WidowWadman re the God part.

I don't think they should. I would not expect them to leave the god bit out either. I would just say it.
I accept that I live in a country with religious and royal history. I do not necessarily love either, but unless you hate either I can not see any reason not to say it.
If you hate either you should probably think twice if you want citizenship.
I would probably pledge allegiance to any god or any monarch if I sought to be a citizen of somewhere.

Nope he won't even sing the national anthem.

If you hate either you should probably think twice if you want citizenship.
I would probably pledge allegiance to any god or any monarch if I sought to be a citizen of somewhere.

Oh-kayyyy...

^^

I would expect that people continue to practice ANY religion while here though. Eg. If you are Muslim for example, surely god would be Allah so there shouldn't be any need not to say it.
If you are not religious it means nothing... certainly in my case.

Haha elements!!!

Read what I wrote and realised what it looked like I said so thought I'd better swiftly clarify. Bloody hell it I sounded like I was a candidate for the bloody BNP ffs.

YER - I'm an atheist. I would have found swearing on the Bible rather disrespectful towards those who actually have that faith. Why pretend when to actually don't believe in it? Do you also not like that people of other faiths can simply use whatever their holy book is?
You seem to be much more concerned about symbols than actual values

Yes the oath itself is a load of bollocks. I'd still say it.

The commitment to the uk is what matters.

It is decent to respect the history and culture of where you are applying for citizenship though. In my view it is a small thing to ask. It is simply a nod of respect towards that history and I would do it.

I think it could be rewritten to better reflect that though

If you think it's bollocks, why is it important then? FWIW, the oath or affirmation is non-negotiable anyway, so the discussion is kinda academic. But it did slightly rile me, that naturalised British citizens unlike born British citizens basically are not allowed an opinion on monarchy vs republicanism. Or are expected to keep it quiet.

No-one is arguing against respect for history and culture. Empty symbolism is the opposite of that though. But then I guess the whole pomp and circumstance and ceremony is a big part of British culture

I find it disrespectful for people to be very against (enough to stop them saying a sentence) what has been an institution in our country and a very important part of our history. It is true that some British people do not always feel a strong connection with it. Of course people of other religions need to be able to substitute for their own god or you risk contravening their basic rights.
Strong views against a basic level of respect towards that history/tradition would be enough for me to not grant citizenship if it were up to me.
I am open to all people of all faiths being considered for citizenship, bit if they are disrespectful to our traditions and history (enough that they would argue over having to say a sentence) then I do not think we should grant citizenship.

Yes it is widow... that will not change any time soon.

But it's not just about that sentence at the ceremony is it? In your opinion should a naturalised British citizen have the right to be politically active, or is that only reserved for born Brits, who never have to undertake a ceremony or a test.

Of course they should!

Perhaps they will be more respectful than Jeremy Corbyn! We need some good politicians!

In my view once you are a British citizen you are a British citizen. You have committed to our country. It is quite hard to get a passport!

If anyone tried to f@#$ with our democracy I have a feeling my view would change dramatically though.

I think born bits should be asked to take the test, can't really kick them out if they fail though as they are British.

my DM worked in factories that are part of the food industry in the UK for 50 years and didnt retire until the age of 79.

but a passport would have been more committed?

My DB and i are adults too, in our forties but that doesnt mean it wouldnt matter if similar happened to my DM Getting sent back to a country she hasnt lived in for decades. My DB and i are British We grew up here. I can only imagine how her grown up kids are feeling.