A British parliamentarian has claimed new immigrants are better aware about the country's heritage than many Britons.
Labour
justice spokesperson Sadiq Khan said that it "frustrated" him to see
newcomers obliged to sit citizenship tests when many people "know b*****
all" about British history, the Daily Mail reported.
Khan, the
son of Pakistani immigrants and MP for Tooting parliamentary
constituency in south London, claimed to have come across many people
who have gone through the citizenship ceremony and feel "so excited and
enthused".
But he said: "Then I?ll be canvassing in my area and
there?ll be people who have lived in the same home for three or four or
five generations who know b***** all about our country, about our
heritage."
"It frustrates me that you?ve got new citizens who
have an obligation to learn about our country but we aren?t doing enough
to make sure everyone shares that knowledge.?
Khan?s comments have been criticised by Tory MPs.
To
gain British citizenship or leave to remain in Britain, immigrants
speaking a certain level of English must complete a test called "Life in
the United Kingdom", introduced by the Labour government in 2005.
Before
being naturalised, they must also take part in an individual or group
ceremony at their local town hall, which involves an oath of allegiance
to the Queen and listening to the national anthem.
