Government should take steps to end unfair discrimination in British Nationality law
31 May 2018
In their report examining the Government's proposed Remedial Order to amend the British Nationality Act of 1981, the Joint Committee on Human Rights says that the Government should take rapid steps to end unfair discrimination when it comes to British Nationality law.
- Read the report summary
- Read the full report: Proposal for a draft British Nationality Act 1981 (Remedial) Order 2018
Report recommendations
The Committee, made up of MPs and Peers and chaired by Harriet Harman MP, welcomes the Government's Remedial Order (a form of secondary legislation that corrects an incompatibility in UK Law with basic human rights) but says that:
- It's unacceptable that your British nationality should depend on whether your parents were married
- People shouldn't have to pay fees again when they are having to re-apply for nationality because of previous discrimination
- British Mothers should be able to pass on British nationality to their children in the same way as Fathers can
- That significant discrimination persists in getting British Overseas Territory Citizenship
- That the Government should act to remedy other discrimination in British Nationality Law as soon as possible.
The Committee look forward to receiving further information promised by the Home Office on how it intends to tackle wider discrimination issues in British Nationality Law (as highlighted in the report) and welcomes them taking action on address similar discrimination when it comes to British Overseas Territories Citizenship.
Further information
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