According to the minister, the existing requirements for citizenship - language and culture tests - are not enough. 'As I understand it, many agree with my proposal to make English language study mandatory for migrants. No one argues that knowledge of our history and understanding of culture by future citizens is also necessary. In my opinion, in addition to this, we should ask people who want to become British to participate in community service. This will allow them to become more familiar with both the work of various institutions and with people,' said Gordon Brown, a politician considered the most likely contender for the future prime minister of the country. Brown believes that citizenship should become a kind of 'contract with the state'.
Supporters of such measures believe that the problem of integration of newcomers is too acute. Many passport holders not only do not participate in the country's public life, but also do not speak English, do not know where to seek medical help. Those who agree with Gordon Brown's proposals say that community work will bring migrants closer to Britons, help them better understand everyday problems and, no less, absorb national values.
Opponents, including Rian Bynon from the Migrant Protection Fund, argue that such measures will only lead to further division. 'All this looks more like a new obstacle for migrants, not a way to help them. The fact is that community work has long been a means of punishing criminals and is perceived accordingly,' Bynon believes.
Currently, in order to have the right to apply for British citizenship, one must have lived legally in the country for at least five years. In many cases, these are professionals working for British companies. And in such cases, notes Conservative Party representative Damian Green, there is no talk of ignorance of culture. 'Many of these people, for example, work in the national health system, they are professional doctors, nurses, and may have worked in Britain for several years before applying for citizenship. I think it's absolute nonsense to pull them away from their work and ask them to prove that they can be useful to society,' Green says.