Having read the proposed information from the factsheet issued on the 3rd December 2021, l would of in the past, agreed with the bill thinking how it would protect us all. However on closer inspection l feel that this document is vague within its definitions and statement (7) just sums up the whole attitude that the government has for us the public ! .
Below are some of the statements on the factsheet and my thoughts regarding them. Follow the link at the bottom of the page to read the factsheet and see if you agree or disagree with the proposed section.
1.The Bill allows for the Home Office to deprive someone of their citizenship without prior notification but only in exceptional circumstances.
What would be the exceptional circumstances ? what would be the clear and set definition of this ? Can the Home office be relied on getting this right ? (Windrush?).
2.The Nationality and Borders Bill does not change any existing rights or the reasons for which a person could be deprived of their citizenship.
So why change the bill?
3.Though we will always try to tell an individual that their citizenship is to be deprived, it might not be possible in exceptional circumstances.
What would be the set definitions for exceptional circumstances ?
4.For example, this may be because we do not know where they are, or because they are in a war zone where we can’t get in touch with them, or because informing them would reveal sensitive intelligence sources.
This appears to cover everything that can happen within society !
5. It is vital, including to our national security, that we ensure that just because we cannot immediately tell a person they are to be deprived of British citizenship, it doesn’t make the decision any less valid or prevent the deprivation order being made.
Apart from terrorism, will there be clarity on what constitutes vital national security that would prevent an individual not being informed immediately ?
6. Decisions are made following careful consideration of advice from officials and lawyers and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Each case is assessed individually.
Understanding Statelessness⬇️.
7. An individual can seek to exercise their statutory right to appeal against the decision - even if not aware of their deprivation at the time. The clause in the Nationality and Borders Bill would not impact the individual’s right to appeal. We would explain their appeal rights when they make contact with us.
In other words please call us to check if we are stripping you of your citizenship because we neither have the time or resources to inform you ourselves !
Understanding Statelessness
How does nationality work?
People usually acquire a nationality automatically at birth, either through their parents or the country in which they were born. Sometimes, however, a person must apply to become a national of a country.
What is statelessness?
The international legal definition of a stateless person is “a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law”. In simple terms, this means that a stateless person does not have a nationality of any country. Some people are born stateless, but others become stateless.
Statelessness can occur for several reasons, including discrimination against particular ethnic or religious groups, or on the basis of gender; the emergence of new States and transfers of territory between existing States; and gaps in nationality laws. Whatever the cause, statelessness has serious consequences for people in almost every country and in all regions of the world.
Nationality and Borders Bill: Deprivation of Citizenship factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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Aye it's terrifying. This and the new rules banning protest, protestors can now be imprisoned for a maximum of 51 days. I thought we were a democracy, but with this bill we are now no better than countries like Turkey or Russia. The UK is fast becoming a dictatorship it seems. Priti Pattel is the most dangerous home secretary we've ever had.And even more disturbing perhaps, is there's not a peep about this anywhere on the media.