RAMP Principals Speak at Westminster Hall Debate on Refugee Citizenship Rights

There was a Westminster Hall Debate yesterday on refugee citizenship rights tabled by Brian Leishman to discuss the changes in the Home Office's 'good character' guidance. The guidance, introduced in February, restricts citizenship for individuals who arrived in the UK irregularly. RAMP Principals Timm Farron MP and Chris Murray MP took part in the debate.

In his speech, Tim Farron MP welcomed the Government’s decision to repeal the legislative ban by the previous to prevent people who arrived in the UK irregularly from applying for citizenship. However, he raised concerns about the 'Good Character' guidance that could still prevent many refugees from naturalising.

Farron argued that the risk of being denied citizenship is unlikely to deter individuals fleeing life-threatening situations, as such decisions are made under extreme pressure and without long-term considerations. He stated that in the absence of safe and legal routes from countries like Iran, Eritrea, and Sudan, those recognised as refugees should be supported in settling as full citizens, rather than being penalised based on how they arrived.

Chris Murray MP welcomed the repeal of parts of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024, noting that this restored previous citizenship rules and allowed for renewed discussion on refugee and migrant citizenship. He argued that while citizenship has symbolic and legal value, settled refugees already contribute fully to British society, and the practical differences between settlement and citizenship are now largely limited to time and cost.