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AIBU?

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Original poster

you couldn't make this up

109 replies

sausageathlete · 31/12/2020 19:02

A UK resident has decided to declare that he has always considered himself to be French because his mother is French and is applying for French citizenship and feels that he will always be a European.

The lucky individual? Stanley Johnson.

Can we encourage his son to seek active Russian or US citizenship?

OP posts:
jessstan1 · 31/12/2020 22:05

Arrows: he's fully entitled to his French passport and any Brexiteer fucknugget spouting patriotic bullshit about how awful it is, is going to get told just that.
........

That exactly.

saraclara · 31/12/2020 22:23

@nauticant

I'm surprised at the Stanley Johnson fans:

www.heraldscotland.com/news/18769339.stanley-johnson-broke-wifes-nose-domestic-violence-incident/

He might be a Remainer, I was, but come on.

I'm not remotely a fan. I just answered logically. There's absolutely no reason why he should modify his views or his actions to suit his son's politics and ambitions, whatever his personality or morals.

They were on different sides of the Brexit fence. What do you expect him to do?

LucyfurMorningstar · 31/12/2020 22:24

This is old news now dragged up by the media to stir shit.
His plans to seek a French passport had already been revealed by his daughter Rachel in a book published in March.
www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/31/stanley-johnson-confirms-application-for-french-passport-on-eve-of-brexit

hedgehogger1 · 31/12/2020 22:30

@HollowTalk

Then doesn't this mean that Boris could claim French citizenship if a grandparent was French?
I hope France could tell him to to fuck off if he did
Readr · 31/12/2020 22:40

Why are you so ashamed ? Because we left the EU?
No, because this country is a joke, starting with the prime minister, continuing with COVID regulations and resources and not finishing with the widening social divide. I am ashamed, too - but luckily I am a naturalised Brit and have kept my European citizenship. (Phew.)

To the commenter who said becoming UK citizens would have cost them their Dutch citizenship - why? Does the Netherlands not recognise dual citizenship?

It's incredibly difficult to be granted French citizenship
No, it isn't. I have a family member who has done it. Unless rules have changed with Brexit, if you live and work there for 5 years, you can get it. AFAIAA, if you do a Master's in France, you can get it, too, and that only takes 2 years.

Topseyt · 31/12/2020 22:43

Good for him. I don't like him much but I am with him on this.

If i had the option to get a European passport I would. Sadly though, I am stuck with a crappy British one and I don't want that.

Stanley Johnson supported Remain and never made any secret of it.

I think Boris too is a closet remainer. I wouldn't be surprised if he even voted remain. Just looking for the opportunity to oust Cameron on the back of a narrow Remain victory (which had been predicted in the opinion polls).

nauticant · 31/12/2020 22:43

"What do you expect him to do?"

Not breaking his wife's nose in a domestic violence incident would have been a good start saraclara.

I couldn't give a toss about Stanley Johnson getting a passport to which he's entitled. But it might be sensible for people to be aware who he is before deciding to support him because he was a prominent Remainer.

quest1on · 31/12/2020 22:46

Good for him!

Livelovebehappy · 31/12/2020 22:49

He can do what he wants. He’s not breaking any laws, and is just a citizen like the rest of us. It’s not like he holds a prominent position in government or acting in a conflict of interest way.

ArrowsOfMistletoe · 31/12/2020 22:52

To the commenter who said becoming UK citizens would have cost them their Dutch citizenship - why? Does the Netherlands not recognise dual citizenship?

That was me, and no, they don't. Exemptions were supposed to have been put in place by the current government for victims of Brexit in the UK, but the legislation hasn't gone through yet. So my DDs and I have got settled status, we are hanging on to our precious EU passports and when the time is right, we will leave this little island. I'm sad, because I always wanted to live here - I love the UK, its light, its landscapes, its people, its sense of humour - but on the 24th of July 2016 when my DDs who were fucking born here were told to 'fuck off back to where they came from', that love started to die.

saraclara · 31/12/2020 22:59

@nauticant

"What do you expect him to do?"

Not breaking his wife's nose in a domestic violence incident would have been a good start saraclara.

I couldn't give a toss about Stanley Johnson getting a passport to which he's entitled. But it might be sensible for people to be aware who he is before deciding to support him because he was a prominent Remainer.

You know exactly what I meant. What do you expect him to do about his own political and personal decisions re: nationality, just because his son promoted Brexit and is now the PM?

That's what this thread is about. If you want to start one about what sort of person he is, feel free. I can't stand the guy, but that's by the by.
When we become incapable of discussing an action logically because we focus on the personality, we're pretty much lost.

veeeeh · 31/12/2020 23:00

They don't give a shit, but we are truly out in a few minutes time now. Time difference you see.

Peregrina · 31/12/2020 23:00

I wouldn't be surprised if he even voted remain.

I thought the same myself. I wonder when he will own up to this, if so?

Janonomouse · 31/12/2020 23:09

I'm struggling to see the issue with this.

FreekStar · 31/12/2020 23:19

All it does it highlight what a fake Boris is! He's pro-europeans at heart.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 31/12/2020 23:21

Love itGrin

If my kid was PM I would have fun embarrassing them too

Readr · 31/12/2020 23:26

@ArrowsOfMistletoe - well done for keeping your Dutch citizenship, you have been very clever! I have some good friends in the Netherlands and I actually wish I could live there, so here's someone who has UK citizenship but envies you. The Netherlands is so much more cultured and well organised than the UK - your kids will thank you that they can grow up there. Smile

ArrowsOfMistletoe · 31/12/2020 23:50

Readr my kids are pretty much grown up - almost 18 and almost 20 - but at least they have 27 countries to choose from instead of just one.

The irony of it is that we were always too broke to afford UK citizenships. It's ludicrously expensive, and the idea of having to take a language test when my English is better than that of 90% of UK natives is just offensive. Then my husband (US citizen) died and we came into money - but by then we no longer wanted the UK passport.

Peregrina · 01/01/2021 00:01

Well done ArrowsofMistletoe

DIL spent a lot of money getting British citizenship as being a mixed race person born overseas she was afraid of the influence of Farage.
Luckily her DCs are entitled to EU passports.

Thedogscollar · 01/01/2021 00:27

Bojo was born in New York I think so he prob has dual citizenship already.
You are right tho OP you couldn't make it up if you tried.

Peregrina · 01/01/2021 00:38

I thought that Johnson gave up his American citizenship when they came after him for some tax. He had to stump up anyway.

RizzleDrizzle · 01/01/2021 01:00

Most of his family are retainers that’s why one son resigned from the government, because he didn’t agree with the way leave were gaining momentum, his daughter is a very outspoken remainer.

What you couldn’t make up was a active eu supporter, with a very clear family support for remain suddenly deciding to campaign leave just to get leadership of his party and the country.

Oh wait you don’t actually have to make it up because it’s What happened!

PetertheWalrus · 01/01/2021 01:25

Stanley J was born in France to a French mother. So was my mate Ron. Ron is now a French citizen. Why shouldn't Stanley be one too if he wishes. He was an MEP and voted "remain". Don't blame the sins of the son on the father.

Blimeyoreilly2020 · 01/01/2021 01:31

I’d LOVE a European passport - if I had a claim on one I’d get it asap!!

Comradesally · 01/01/2021 01:32

Sign of a healthy family that allows free thinking.

Son can't be blamed for the father and vice versa. You also couldn't make it up that Rachel Johnson was on a super yacht with geldof shrieking at a fisherman's protest through tannoys. What a spectacular own goal.

They all seem to have different opinions but rub along... Very healthy. Free thinking above all surely!!