§ Mrs. Teresa Gorman (Billericay)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide that persons seeking United Kingdom citizenship should be required to take an oath of allegiance to the Crown.The present position of permanent residents in Britain is a mess and a muddle. Some of us are full citizens. Other people come from various parts of the world to work here as foreigners. Refugees come to take refuge here. People from many parts of the world come to Britain for other reasons. People are given the right to settle in Britain, and after five years that right becomes a right to live permanently in Britain.Yet there is no obligation on the part of such people to accept the responsibilities of citizenship as well as the benefits. I know that the Labour party will give its knee-jerk reaction to the Bill, and assume that I am talking about race. I assure them that I am talking of nothing of the sort. My Bill is a cohesive measure which will make people who live here feel that being British means that they are part of the way of life and have a citizenship they enjoy, uphold and are prepared to defend if the necessity arises.
The oath of allegiance is set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. After five years of residence or, in the case of spouses of people who are already citizens, three years of residence, people can apply for full citizenship. However, there is no obligation on them to do so. I believe that that is wrong. It would have a cohesive effect on people to take an oath to the country.
The requirement to take an oath of allegiance is commonplace in other parts of the world. People who settle in America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand—all countries which are extremely generous in allowing newcomers into their society—require that most people, after an appropriate period, take an oath. In the United States, young children swear their oath and salute the flag every day of their school life. An oath makes them think that they are Americans or Australians first and that their country of origin comes second.
I should like all people who settle permanently in Britain to feel that they are British, just as those of us who were born and bred here do. Those of us who are native citizens affirm our citizenship and our dedication to Britain in special circumstances by taking an oath. Members of Parliament do so when they enter Parliament. Judges do so when they take up office. Members of the armed forces take an oath of allegiance. So do bishops in certain circumstances. Therefore, it is not an alien concept even for people who are already acknowledged citizens by birth to affirm their allegiance to Britain when they take up special duties.
In the European legislation which we are currently engaged in debating, we are informed about a new type of citizenship—a citizenship of the union. When I go round the country, I find that many constituents are worried about that type of citizenship. They want to know whether it will interfere with their British citizenship. They want to know how it will affect Britain if a great many people from Europe choose to settle in Britain permanently. Such people would benefit from being in Britain, yet would have no obligations to Britain, for example, in time of war or when questions of treason arise. They would have the benefits but not the obligations.
295 People in Britain would welcome the requirement that people who reside here permanently accept the obligations which go with that privilege. Therefore, I should like to introduce a Bill which will require those who decide to settle here permanently, as they are able to do after five years of being allowed to reside here, to make a commitment to the Crown, using the oath of allegiance set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. That will have a beneficial effect on our country. We know what happens to societies where people are drawn together under the name of one country, yet feel no allegiance to it. Those countries are fracturing and falling apart, and their people may even be involved in fratricide.
As Britain becomes more open to people from many parts of the world, including Europe, there needs to be a sense that the British nation has an identity—that being British means something to all those people, wherever they come from. By taking an oath, they would have to do no more than they would in other countries which exercise the same sort of generosity as Britain. I beg leave to introduce my Bill.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I understand that Mr. Tony Banks seeks to oppose.
§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West)I wish to oppose the ten-minute rule application. The hon. Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) is a feisty individual, who has espoused some worthwhile causes in her time, but this is not one of them.
§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)Name one.
§ Mr. BanksA woman's right to choose was one very good cause espoused by the hon. Member for Billericay.
I cannot support the measure, because it seems to be a regal variant of Lord Tebbit's cricket test. I oppose the Bill on a number of grounds. First, it is unnecessary. Existing citizens would not be required to take such an oath, as the hon. Lady rightly pointed out. If the Bill got on to the statute book, which it will not, it would create two classes of citizen and would add one further hurdle to the process of application for citizenship, which is already tedious, expensive and time-consuming.
When one thinks about it, the requirement to take an oath of allegiance is not onerous. I imagine that, if it were a requirement of citizenship to stand on one leg and sing a chorus of "My Old Man's a Dustman", most people would do so to secure their objective. Rather than create more obstacles to citizenship, the hon. Lady would do better to use her undoubted energies to propose a fairer and faster method of citizenship application.
Secondly, why should an oath of allegiance be restricted to the Crown? If we were going to insist on such a thing, it would be far more appropriate to take an oath of allegiance to the country. Most of the powers of the Crown, especially in respect of the royal prerogative, have long since passed to the Government of the day and to the Prime Minister—[HON. MEMBERS: "And to Brussels."]—yes, as my hon. Friends say, to Brussels. Perhaps we should take an oath of allegiance to Jacques Delors and the European Commission.
I realise that, since the Prime Minister has so many of the powers of the royal prerogative, it would be attractive 296 to Conservative Members if new citizens had to pledge allegiance to him. Before we move down that road, perhaps they should apply that test to Tory Back Benchers, especially in view of the impending debate on Maastricht, and start with the hon. Member for Billericay.
Finally, what about citizens who hold republican views? This country still passes for a free society, and it is not illegal to believe that, in a proper democracy, the Head of State should be elected and be accountable to the people. To hold such views should not be used as a way to call into question the patriotism of any citizen, new or old. With an oath of allegiance to the Crown alone, people with republican views would be forced either to break their oath or to disown their beliefs. That is an invidious choice, and it should not be imposed on any individual.
The hon. Member for Billericay said that MPs are required to swear such an oath before taking their seats after an election. I find that anachronistic. My allegiance is to the country and to the people who elected me, and to no one else. If oaths are to be taken, they should be to the country, to democracy, the rule of law, civil rights and the liberties of the people. Because the proposal in the Bill is restrictive in extent and limited in application, I beg leave to oppose it.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 19 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of public business):—
§ The House divided: Ayes 64, Noes 135.
297| Divison No. 89] | [3.44 pm |
| AYES | |
| Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey) | Knight, Mrs Angela (Erewash) |
| Alexander, Richard | Legg, Barry |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Lidington, David |
| Beggs, Roy | Maitland, Lady Olga |
| Biffen, Rt Hon John | Marlow, Tony |
| Blackburn, Dr John G. | Molyneaux, Rt Hon James |
| Bowden, Andrew | Neubert, Sir Michael |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes | Nicholls, Patrick |
| Brandreth, Gyles | Pawsey, James |
| Cash, William | Porter, David (Waveney) |
| Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey | Powell, William (Corby) |
| Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire) | Robathan, Andrew |
| Dickens, Geoffrey | Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S) |
| Dover, Den | Ross, William (E Londonderry) |
| Duncan, Alan | Shaw, David (Dover) |
| Duncan-Smith, Iain | Shersby, Michael |
| Dunn, Bob | Sims, Roger |
| Evans, Nigel (Ribble Valley) | Smyth, Rev Martin (Belfast S) |
| Evans, Roger (Monmouth) | Spink, Dr Robert |
| Faber, David | Spring, Richard |
| Fabricant, Michael | Sproat, Iain |
| Forsythe, Clifford (Antrim S) | Stephen, Michael |
| Fry, Peter | Sykes, John |
| Gardiner, Sir George | Tapsell, Sir Peter |
| Gill, Christopher | Thomason, Roy |
| Gorman, Mrs Teresa | Townend, John (Bridlington) |
| Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) | Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexl'yh'th) |
| Hannam, Sir John | Trimble, David |
| Hawkins, Nick | Watts, John |
| Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk) | Whittingdale, John |
| Jenkin, Bernard | |
| Jessel, Toby | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Kilfedder, Sir James | Mr. Bill Walker and Mr. Nirj Joseph Deva. |
| Knapman, Roger |
| NOES | |
| Adams, Mrs Irene | Bayley, Hugh |
| Ainger, Nick | Beckett, Margaret |
| Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) | Beith, Rt Hon A. J. |
| Allen, Graham | Bennett, Andrew F. |
| Armstrong, Hilary | Bermingham, Gerald |
| Austin-Walker, John | Berry, Dr. Roger |
| Banks, Tony (Newham NW) | Blunkett, David |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Lestor, Joan (Eccles) |
| Brown, Gordon (Dunfermline E) | Lewis, Terry |
| Brown, N. (N'c'tle upon Tyne E) | Livingstone, Ken |
| Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) | Llwyd, Elfyn |
| Burden, Richard | Loyden, Eddie |
| Callaghan, Jim | McAllion, John |
| Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) | McAvoy, Thomas |
| Cann, Jamie | McCartney, Ian |
| Carlile, Alexander (Montgomry) | McKelvey, William |
| Clarke, Eric (Midlothian) | Madden, Max |
| Connarty, Michael | Mandelson, Peter |
| Cousins, Jim | Marek, Dr John |
| Cox, Tom | Marshall, David (Shettleston) |
| Cryer, Bob | Martin, Michael J. (Springburn) |
| Cummings, John | Michael, Alun |
| Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE) | Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) |
| Darling, Alistair | Milburn, Alan |
| Davidson, Ian | Miller, Andrew |
| Davies, Bryan (Oldham C'tral) | Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby) |
| Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) | Moonie, Dr Lewis |
| Dixon, Don | Morris, Rt Hon A. (Wy'nshawe) |
| Donohoe, Brian H. | Mullin, Chris |
| Dunnachie, Jimmy | Murphy, Paul |
| Enright, Derek | Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon |
| Fatchett, Derek | O'Neill, Martin |
| Faulds, Andrew | Pendry, Tom |
| Flynn, Paul | Pickthall, Colin |
| Fyfe, Maria | Pike, Peter L. |
| Galbraith, Sam | Powell, Ray (Ogmore) |
| Galloway, George | Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) |
| Gerrard, Neil | Purchase, Ken |
| Godman, Dr Norman A. | Quin, Ms Joyce |
| Gordon, Mildred | Radice, Giles |
| Graham, Thomas | Rooney, Terry |
| Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) | Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) |
| Gunnell, John | Salmond, Alex |
| Hain, Peter | Simpson, Alan |
| Hardy, Peter | Skinner, Dennis |
| Harman, Ms Harriet | Smith, Andrew (Oxford E) |
| Hill, Keith (Streatham) | Smith, C. (Isl'ton S & F'sbury) |
| Hinchliffe, David | Smith, Rt Hon John (M'kl'ds E) |
| Hoon, Geoffrey | Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) |
| Howarth, George (Knowsley N) | Snape, Peter |
| Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) | Soley, Clive |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Squire, Rachel (Dunfermline W) |
| Hughes, Roy (Newport E) | Steinberg, Gerry |
| Hutton, John | Stern, Michael |
| Illsley, Eric | Stevenson, George |
| Ingram, Adam | Strang, Dr. Gavin |
| Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H) | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| Jamieson, David | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| Janner, Greville | Watson, Mike |
| Jones, Barry (Alyn and D'side) | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) | Williams, Alan W (Carmarthen) |
| Jones, Lynne (B'ham S O) | Wilson, Brian |
| Jones, Martyn (Clwyd, SW) | Winnick, David |
| Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham) | Wise, Audrey |
| Jones, Robert B. (W Hertfdshr) | Wray, Jimmy |
| Kennedy, Jane (Lpool Brdgn) | |
| Khabra, Piara S. | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Kilfoyle, Peter | Mr. John Maxton and Mr. Keith Vaz. |
| Kirkwood, Archy | |
| Leighton, Ron |
§ Question accordingly negatived.