2007

LifeintheUnited
KingdomTest
CitizenshipStudyGuide

AguidetostudyingandpassingtheLifeintheUnited
KingdomTest containingChapters2,3and4ofthe
officialHomeOfficebookLifeintheUnitedKingdom
aJourneytoCitizenship FirstEdition

Citizenship
i

LancasterandCoullPublishing
Contentsreproducedunderlicencenumber
C02W0008281
LancasterandCoullPublishing
ContentsreproducedunderlicencenumberC02W0008281

ii

LifeintheUnited
KingdomTest
CitizenshipStudyGuide

ByPaulLancasterandMaryAnnCoull

iii

LifeintheUnitedKingdomTest
CitizenshipStudyGuide
ByPaulLancasterandMaryAnnCoull
Publishedby
LancasterandCoullPublishing
11MiltonClose
Horton
Berkshire
SL39PPUnitedKingdom.
Email(forordersandcustomerservicesenquiries):mail@lancasterandcoull.co.uk
Visitourhomepageon:www.lancasterandcoull.co.uk
Copyright2007LancasterandCoullPublishing.Allrightsreserved.
Chapters2,3&4fromLifeintheUnitedKingdomAJourneytoCitizenshippublished
withpermissionfromHerMajestysStationeryOfficeCrowncopyright2006FirstEdition
published2006ISBN9780113413027PublishedbyHerMajestysStationeryOfficeon
behalfoftheHomeOffice.ExtractslicensedunderClickUseLicenceNumber:
C02W0008281
ISBN:9780955485305(Option1)
PrintingHistory:
January2007
iv

FirstEdition

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vi

TABLEOFCONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1
1.BRITAINTODAY........................................................................................................... 3
BECOMINGABRITISHCITIZEN.............................................................................. 3
BEINGABRITISHCITIZEN....................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCINGTHETEST........................................................................................ 3
PREPARINGFORTHETEST ................................................................................... 4
TAKINGTHETEST..................................................................................................... 4
2.ACHANGINGSOCIETY..............................................................................................7
MIGRATIONTOBRITAIN .......................................................................................... 7
MIGRATIONSINCE1945........................................................................................... 7
THECHANGINGROLEOF WOMEN ....................................................................... 7
WOMENINBRITAINTODAY .................................................................................... 8
CHILDREN,FAMILYANDYOUNGPEOPLE .......................................................... 8
EDUCATION ................................................................................................................ 9
WORK......................................................................................................................... 10
HEALTHHAZARDS .................................................................................................. 10
YOUNGPEOPLE'SATTITUDESANDACTION.................................................... 11
3.BRITAINTODAY:A PROFILE.................................................................................. 13
POPULATION............................................................................................................ 13
THECENSUS............................................................................................................ 14
ETHNICDIVERSITY ................................................................................................. 14
WHEREDOPEOPLELIVE?.................................................................................... 15
RELIGIONANDTOLERANCE................................................................................. 16
THEESTABLISHEDCHURCH................................................................................ 16
OTHERCHRISTIANGROUPS................................................................................ 16
THEREGIONSOFBRITAIN................................................................................... 17
REGIONALDIFFERENCES..................................................................................... 17
CUSTOMSANDTRADITIONS ................................................................................ 18
SPORT ....................................................................................................................... 18
NATIONALDAYS...................................................................................................... 18
RELIGIOUSANDTRADITIONALFESTIVALS....................................................... 19
THEMAINCHRISTIANANDTRADITIONALFESTIVALS ................................... 19
OTHERTRADITIONS............................................................................................... 20
4.HOWBRITAINISGOVERNED ................................................................................. 21
vii

THEWORKINGSYSTEM ........................................................................................ 21
PARLIAMENTARYDEMOCRACY .......................................................................... 21
THEPRIMEMINISTER ............................................................................................ 21
THECABINET ........................................................................................................... 21
THEBRITISHCONSTITUTION ............................................................................... 21
SOVEREIGNTY......................................................................................................... 22
CONVENTIONS ........................................................................................................ 22
ACOMPETITIVEPARTYSYSTEM ........................................................................ 22
THEROLEOFTHEMEDIA ..................................................................................... 23
THEFORMALINSTITUTIONS ................................................................................ 23
ACONSTITUTIONALMONARCHY ........................................................................ 23
THEHOUSEOFCOMMONS .................................................................................. 24
VISITINGPARLIAMENT........................................................................................... 24
THESPEAKER.......................................................................................................... 24
THEWHIPS ............................................................................................................... 24
THEHOUSEOFLORDS.......................................................................................... 25
THEELECTORALSYSTEM .................................................................................... 25
THEPARTYSYSTEMANDPRESSUREGROUPS ............................................. 26
PRESSUREGROUPS.............................................................................................. 26
THEJUDICIARY........................................................................................................ 26
THEPOLICE.............................................................................................................. 27
THECIVILSERVICE ................................................................................................ 27
LOCALGOVERNMENT............................................................................................ 27
DEVOLVEDADMINISTRATION .............................................................................. 28
THENATIONALASSEMBLYFORWALES ........................................................... 28
THEPARLIAMENTOFSCOTLAND ....................................................................... 28
THENORTHERNIRELANDASSEMBLY............................................................... 29
NONDEPARTMENTALPUBLICBODIES ............................................................. 29
AFEWEXAMPLESOFNONDEPARTMENTALPUBLICBODIES .................... 29
BRITAININEUROPEANDTHEWORLD .............................................................. 30
THECOUNCILOFEUROPE ................................................................................... 30
THEEUROPEANUNION ......................................................................................... 30
THECOUNCILOFMINISTERS .............................................................................. 31
THEEUROPEANCOMMISSION ............................................................................ 31
THEEUROPEANPARLIAMENT............................................................................. 31
viii

EUROPEANUNIONLAW ........................................................................................ 31
THECOMMONWEALTH .......................................................................................... 31
THEUNITEDNATIONS............................................................................................ 32
THEORDINARYCITIZEN........................................................................................ 32
THERIGHTTOVOTE .............................................................................................. 32
THEELECTORALREGISTER ................................................................................ 32
PARTICIPATION ....................................................................................................... 33
STANDINGFOROFFICE......................................................................................... 33
CONTACTINGELECTEDMEMBERS .................................................................... 33
5.GUIDANCENOTESFORNATURALISATION........................................................ 35
BRITISHNATIONALITYACT1981......................................................................... 35
ABOUTTHEAUTHORS................................................................................................ 43
MORETITLESFROMLANCASTERANDCOULL..................................................... 45

ix

INTRODUCTION

TheHomeOfficeLifeintheUnitedKingdomtest (before 30June 2007) isbasedontheinformation

containedinChapters2,3and4ofthispublication.

YOUNEEDTOREADJUSTCHAPTERS 2,
3and4 TOSTUDYFORTHE
IMMIGRATIONTEST
ThesethreechaptershavebeenreproducedintheirentiretyfromtheOfficialHomeOffice
publicationLifeintheUnitedKingdom AJourneytoCitizenship FirstEdition underHomeOffice
underClickUselicensenumberC02W0008281.
LancasterandCoullPublishingalso produce aninteractiveimmigrationquiztoaccompanythis
book,detailsofwhichcanbefoundattheendofthis book.
Asatdateofwriting,after30June2007 youwillneedtostudytheSecondEditionoftheHome
Officeofficialbookwhichincludesnewchapters2,3,4,5&6.Thetestwillbebasedonthesenew
chapters.

1. BRITAINTODAY
BecomingaBritishcitizenisanimportanteventinyourlifeandissomethingthatyoucanfeel
proudof.
Britainisacountrywherepeopleofmanydifferentculturesandfaithslive.WhatbringsBritish
peopletogetheristhattheylistentodifferentpointsofview,theyhaverespectforequalrights
andtheybelievethat communityisimportant.

BECOMINGABRITISHCITIZEN
BecomingaBritishcitizenmeansyouwillhave:
therighttoaBritishpassport
therighttovoteinnationalelections
theopportunitytoplayanactiveroleinyourcommunityandwidersociety
Asan individual,youalsohavemanytalentsandexperiencestobringtoUKsociety.

BEINGABRITISHCITIZEN
BeingaBritishcitizendoesn'tmeanyouhavetoloseyourownidentity.Therewill,however,be
thingsaboutlifeintheUKthatyoushouldknowabout beforeyoubecomeacitizen.
That'swhytheLifeintheUKTesthasbeenintroduced.Studyingforandtakingthetestwillgive
youthepracticalknowledgeyouneedtoliveinthiscountryandtotakepartinsociety.

INTRODUCINGTHETEST
IfyouareapplyingfornaturalisationasaBritishcitizen,youwillneedtoshowthatyouknowabout
lifeintheUK.IfyouliveinEngland,Scotland,WalesorNorthernIreland,youcandothisintwo
ways:bytakingtheLifeintheUKTestorbytakingcombinedEnglish forSpeakersofOther
Languages(ESOL)andcitizenshipclasses.
YoushouldtakethetestifyouareapplyingfornaturalisationasaBritishcitizenandyourlevelof
EnglishisESOLEntry3orabove.IfyourlevelofEnglishislowerthanESOLEntry3andyouwishto
applyfornaturalisation,youwillneedtoattendcombinedEnglishlanguage(ESOL)andcitizenship
classesinstead.
ESOLandcitizenshipclasseshelpyoutoimproveyourEnglishandlearnmoreaboutlifeintheUK.
Youcantaketheseclassesatyourlocalfurthereducationorcommunitycollege. Tofindoutmore
aboutESOLandcitizenshipclasses,contactyourlocalcollege,orcalltheLifeintheUKTest
Helplineon08000154245.
IfyouarenotsurewhatyourlevelofEnglishis, workthroughthetutorialat
http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk orcontact yourlocalfurthereducationcollegeorLearndirect
centre who cangiveyouaninitialassessment.Ifyouneedhelpfindingsomewherenearyouto
takeaninitialassessment,thencalltheLifeintheUKTestHelplineon08000154245.
Ifyouneedhelpwithfindingatestcentre,calltheLifeintheUKTestHelplineon08000154245 or
visit http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk.
Atpresent,thetestisonlyavailableinEnglish,butwill beofferedinWelshandScottishGaelicin
thefuture.Thetestwillnotbemadeavailableinanyotherlanguages.
3

YoushouldtakethetestbeforeyouapplyfornaturalisationasaBritishcitizen,providedyoumeet
alltheotherrequirementsfornaturalisation.TheHomeOfficewebsite
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/content/ind/en/home.html providesmoreinformationonhow
toapplyfornaturalisationasaBritishcitizen.
Ifyoupassthetest,youaregivenaletterwhichprovesyouhavebeensuccessful.Thisiscalled
yourpassnotificationletter.Youwillneedtoattachyourpassnotificationlettertoyourfilledin
citizenshipapplicationformandsendbothtotheHomeOffice.TheHomeOfficewillretainthe
informationitgetsfromtestcentresfor areasonableperiod.However,youshouldsubmityour
applicationassoonaspossibleaftertakingthetest.
Youtakethetestonacomputerinanofficialtestcentre.It'sdesignedtobeveryeasytouse.Help
isavailableatyourlocalUKonlinecentre ifyou'veneverusedacomputerbefore.
ComputeraccessatyourlocalUK Onlinecentreisfree,andfriendlystaff arealwaystheretohelp
you. FormoreinformationaboutUKOnline,visit http:// www.ufi.com/ukol/.

PREPARINGFORTHETEST
Thetestcontains24questionsonlifeintheUnitedKingdomandwilllastfor45minutes.It'sbased
onchapters2,3and4ofthisguide.Youshouldstudythesechaptersverycarefully.
TheLifeintheUKTestwebsite http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk/textsite/nav_10.html containsa
tutorial thathas beendevelopedtohelpyouprepare forthetestand to answerthedifferenttypes
ofquestion containedinthetest.
Youcandothetutorialasmanytimesasyouwant.Youshouldfeelcomfortableaboutanswering
questionsonthecomputer.
YoucanalsodoapracticetestatyourtestcentrebeforeyoutaketheLifeintheUKTest.
Don'tworryifyoudon'tpassthetestthefirsttimethatyoutryit;youcantryagainwhenyoufeel
ready.There'snolimittothenumberoftimesyoucantakethetest.

TAKINGTHETEST
Onarrivalatyourtestcentre,thetestsupervisorwillrecordyourfullname,dateofbirth,
nationality,countryandplaceofbirth,andyourpostcode.YourphotographicIDwillbechecked
andyouwillhavetopayforyourtest(unlessyouhavepaidfor itpreviously).
Thetestsupervisorwillchecktomakesureyouhavecompletedtheprepareforthetestsectionat
http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk/textsite/prepare_10.html.
Itisimportanttogothroughthissectionofthewebsitebeforeyoutakethe test.
Youwillthenbeloggedontoacomputerandwillhavetimetocompleteapracticetestonyour
computerbeforeyoubegintheLifeintheUKTest.Thetestsupervisorwilltellyouwhentobegin
yourtestandhowlongyouhavetocompleteit.
Thetesthasatimelimitof45minutes.Thiswillgiveyouplentyoftimetochooseyouranswers
andcheckthemagainbeforetheend.Youdonotneedtorushtofinishthetestquickly;remember
touseallofthetimethatyouaregiven.Ifyouhavecertainmedicalconditions,youmaybe
allowedmoretime.Youmusttellthetestcentreofanymedicalconditionswhenyoubookyour
test.

Youwillfindoutyourresultswhenthetestsessionhasfinished.Thetestsupervisorwilltellyou
whetherornot if youhave passed. Thepassmarkforthetestis75%.
Youwill NOT betoldyourpassmark.
Ifyoupassthetest,yourtestsupervisorwillgiveyouapassnotificationletter.Thislettercontains
detailsofyourtestdate,supervisor,centrelocationandauniqueIDnumber.Whenyouhavefilled
inyourcitizenshipapplication,youshouldattachyourpassnotificationletterandsendbothtothe
HomeOffice.YourtestcentrewillalsosendproofofyourtestresultstotheHomeOffice.
Yourpassnotificationletterisveryimportant:youshouldkeepitinasafeplaceuntilyouareready
tofillinyourcitizenshipapplication.Ifyoulosethisletter,youwillnotbegivenanewoneto
replaceit.
Yourtestsupervisorwilladviseyouifyouhavefailedthetest.You shouldnotmakeanapplication
fornaturalisationasaBritishcitizenifthishappens.
Youcantakethetestagain,butwedonotrecommendthatyoudothisstraightaway.Youshould
gobackandstudychapters2,3and4ofthisbook untilyoufeelconfident.
Yourresultsnotificationletterwillgiveyoufeedbackonwhichareasofthehandbookyouneedto
lookatagain.Youwillthenneedtobookanewtestdateandtimewithyourtestcentre.
Alternatively,ifyoufeelyoudidnotpassthetestbecauseofyourlevelofEnglish,youmayliketo
considerattendingcombinedEnglishlanguage(ESOL)andcitizenshipclassesatyourlocalfurther
educationcollege.Youwoulddothis before takingthetestagain.

2. ACHANGINGSOCIETY
MIGRATIONTOBRITAIN
Ifwegobackfarenoughintime,almosteveryonelivinginBritaintodaymaybeseentohavetheir
originselsewhere.Weareanationofimmigrants abletotraceourrootstocountriesthroughout
Europe,Russia,theMiddleEast,Africa,Asia,andtheCaribbean.Inthepastimmigrantgroups
cametoinvadeandtoseizeland.Morerecently,peoplehavecometoBritaintofindsafetyandin
searchofjobsandabetterlife.
Britainisproudofitstraditionofprovidingasafehavenforpeoplefleeingpersecutionandconflict.
Inthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturies,ProtestantHuguenotsfromFrancecametoBritainto
escapereligiouspersecution.TheterriblefamineinIrelandinthemid1840sledtoasurgeof
migrationtotheBritishmainland,whereIrishlabourersprovidedmuchoftheworkforceforthe
constructionofcanalsandrailways.
Between1880 1910,largenumbersofJewishpeoplecametoBritainfromwhatarenowPoland,
Ukraine,andBelarustoescapetheviolencetheyfacedathome.Unhappily,inthe1930s,fewer
wereabletoleaveGermanyandcentralEuropeintimetoescapetheNaziHolocaust,which
claimedthelivesof6millionpeople.
MIGRATIONSINCE1945
AttheendoftheSecondWorldWar,therewasthehugetaskofrebuildingBritainaftersixyearsof
war.Withnotenoughpeopleavailableforwork,theBritishgovernmentencouragedworkersfrom
otherpartsofEuropetohelpwiththeprocessofreconstruction.In1948,theinvitationwas
extendedtopeopleinIrelandandtheWestIndies.
AshortageoflabourinBritaincontinuedthroughoutthe1950sandsomeUKindustrieslaunched
advertisingcampaignstoattractworkersfromoverseas.CentresweresetupintheWestIndiesto
recruitbuscrews,andtextileandengineeringfirmsinthenorthofEnglandandtheMidlandssent
agentstofindworkersinIndiaandPakistan.Forabout25yearspeoplefromtheWestIndies, India,
Pakistan, andlaterBangladesh,travelledtoworkandsettleinBritain.
Inthe1970smigrationfromtheseareas fellaftertheGovernmentpassednewlawsrestricting
immigrationtoBritain.However,duringthisperiod,Britainadmitted28,000peopleofIndianorigin
whohadbeenforcedtoleaveUganda,and22,000refugeesfromSouthEastAsia.Inthe1980s,the
largestimmigrantgroupswerefromtheUnitedStates,Australia,SouthAfrica,NewZealand,Hong
Kong,Singapore,andMalaysia.
WiththefalloftheIronCurtainandthebreakupoftheSovietUnioninthelate1980sandearly
90s,othergroupsbegantocome toBritain,seekinganewandsaferwayoflife.Since1994there
hasbeenariseinthenumbersmovingtoBritainfromEurope,theMiddleEast,Asia,Africaandthe
Indiansubcontinent,manyofwhomhavesoughtpoliticalasylum.MigrantstoBritain,however,
faceincreasinglytightercontrols,astheGovernmentattemptstopreventunauthorised
immigrationandtoexaminemorecloselytheclaimsofthoseseekingasylum.

THECHANGINGROLEOF WOMEN
InnineteenthcenturyBritain,familieswereusuallylargeand,inmosthouseholds,men,women
andchildrenallcontributedtowardsthefamilywage.Althoughtheywereeconomicallyvery
important,womeninBritainhadfewerrightsinlawthanmen.Until1857,amarriedwomanhad
norighttodivorceherhusband,anduntil1882,awoman'searnings,alongwithanypropertyor
moneyshebroughttothemarriage,automaticallybelongedtoherhusband.
7

Inthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies,anincreasingnumberofwomencampaigned
anddemonstratedforgreaterrightsand,inparticular,therighttovote.However,theprotestsand
demonstrationswerehaltedduringtheFirstWorldWar,aswomenjoinedinthewareffortand
tookonamuchgreatervarietyofworkthantheyhaddonebefore.Women(overtheageof30)
werefinallygiventherighttovoteandtostandforelectionforParliamentaftertheWarhad
endedin1918.Itwasn'tuntil1928thatwomeninBritainreceivedvotingrightsatthesameageas
men.
Despitetheseimprovements,womenstillfaceddiscriminationintheworkplace.Whenawoman
married,itwasquitecommonforhertobeaskedtoleaveworkbyheremployer.Manyjobswere
closedtowomen,andwomenfounditverydifficulttoenteruniversity.The1960sand70ssaw
increasingpressurefromwomenforequalrightsand.duringthisperiod,lawswerepassedgiving
womentherighttoequalpayandprohibitingemployersfromdiscriminatingagainstwomen
becauseoftheirsex.
WOMENINBRITAINTODAY
WomeninBritainmakeup51percentofthepopulation,and45percentoftheworkforce.Girls,
asawhole,leaveschooltodaywithbetterqualificationsthanboys,andtherearenowmore
womenthanmenatuniversity.Employmentopportunities forwomennowaremuchgreaterthan
theywereinthepast.Althoughwomencontinuetobeemployedintraditionallyfemaleareas,
suchashealthcare,teaching,secretarial,andsales,thereisstrongevidencethatattitudesare
changingandthatwomenare doingamuchwiderrangeofworkthanbefore.
ResearchshowsthattodayveryfewpeoplebelievethatwomeninBritainshouldstayathomeand
notgoouttowork.Today,almostthreequartersofwomenwithchildrenofschoolageareinpaid
work.
Inmany households,womencontinuetohaveamajorshareinchildcareandhousework,buthere
toothereisevidenceofgreaterequality,withfatherstakinganincreasingroleinraisingthefamily
andhouseholdchores.Despitethisprogress,manyarguethatmore needstobedonetoachieve
greaterequalitybetweenwomenandmenparticularlyintheworkplace.WomeninBritaindonot
havethesameaccessasmentopromotionandbetterpaidjobs,andtheaveragehourlyrateof
payforwomenisabout20percentlowerthanitisformen.

CHILDREN,FAMILYAND YOUNGPEOPLE

YoungpeopleinBritain

Peopleupto19
yearsold
15
Million

InBritaintherearealmost15million
childrenandyoungpeopleuptotheageof
19. Thisrepresentsalmostaquarterofthe
UKpopulation.Youngpeopleare
consideredtobeagroupwiththeirown
identity,interests,andfashionsthatin
somewaysdistinguishthemfromolder
people.Generallyspeaking,oncethey
reachadulthood,childrentendtomove
awayfromthefamilyhome,butthisvaries
fromonefamilyandonecommunityto
another.

MostchildreninBritainreceiveweekly
8

pocketmoneyfromtheirparents,andmanygetmorefordoingjobsaroundthehouse.
ChildrentodayintheUKdonotplayoutsidethehomeasmuchastheydidinthepast.Home
entertainment,suchastelevision,videos,and computers,areseenaspartofthereasonforthis,
butsoalsoisanincreasedconcernforchildrenssafety.Incidentsofchildmolestationbystrangers
areoftenreportedingreatdetail,butthereisnoevidencethatdangersofthiskindareincreasing.
Asaresultofchangingattitudestowardsdivorceandseparation,familypatternsinBritainhave
alsochangedconsiderablyinthelast20years.

Childrenandfamilies
10%
ChildrenLivingwithboth
birthparents 65%

25%

Childrenlivinginlone
parentfamilies 25%
Childrenlivingwithina
stepfamily 10%
65%

Todaywhile65percentofchildrenlivewithbothbirthparents,almost25percentliveinlone
parent families,and10percentlivewithinastepfamily.
EDUCATION
TheGovernmentplacesgreatimportanceontheneedtoassessandtestpupilsinordertoknow
whattheyhaveachieved.

Sevenyearsold
Elevenyearsold
Sixteenyearsold
Seventeenyearsold
Eighteenyearsold

CompulsoryTesting
(England&Scotland)
X
X
X

GCSE

VocationalQualifications

A/SandAlevels

X
X

X
X

Compulsorytestingtakesplaceattheagesofseven,elevenandsixteeninEnglandandScotland
(butnotinWales wheremoreinformalmethodsofassessmentarefavoured).Thesetestshelp
togiveparentsagoodindicationoftheirchildrensprogressandchildrenknowthesubjects
theyaredoingwellandthosethatneedextraattention.
MostyoungpeopletakeGCSE (GeneralCertificateofSecondaryEducation)examinationsat
sixteen,andmanytakevocationalqualifications,A/SandAlevels(Advancedlevels),atseventeen
andeighteen.
Oneinthreeyoungpeople
nowmoveontoHighereducation
after school.
The Governmentaimistoreachonein
two.

Ofthosethatdo,somedefertheiruniversityentrancebytakingayearout.Thisoftenincludes
periodsdoing voluntarywork,travellingoverseas,orearningmoneytopayforfeesandliving
expensesatuniversity.

WORK
Itisnowcommonforyoungpeopletohaveaparttimejobwhilsttheyarestillatschool.Recent
estimatessuggestthattherearetwomillionchildrenatworkatanyonetime.Themostcommon
jobsarenewspaperdeliveryandworkinsupermarketsandnewsagents.Manyparentsbelievethat
parttimeworkofthiskindhelpschildrentobecomemoreindependent,aswellasprovidingthem
(andsometimestheirfamily)withextraincome.
Itisimportanttonote,however,thattheemploymentofchildrenisstrictly controlledbylaw,and
thatthereareconcernsforthesafetyofchildrenwhoworkillegallyorarenotproperlysupervised.
HEALTHHAZARDS
ManyparentsinBritainworrythattheirchildrenmaymisuseaddictivesubstancesanddrugsin
someways.
CigaretteconsumptioninBritainhasfallensignificantlyandnowonlyaminorityofthepopulation
smoke.Restrictionsareplannedagainstsmokinginpublicplaces.Smokinghasdeclinedamongst
youngpeopleaswellasadults,althoughstatisticsshowthatgirls smokemorethanboys.
Tobacco,bylaw,shouldnotbesoldtoanyoneundertheageof16.
Alcoholabuseisaproblem.
Althoughyoungpeoplebelowtheageof18arenotallowedby
lawtobuyalcohol,thereisconcerninBritainovertheageat
whichsomeyoungpeoplestartdrinking,andtheamountof
alcoholthattheyconsumeinonesessionor"binge".Increasing
penaltiesincludingonthespotfinesarebeingintroducedtohelpcontrolthis.
Controlleddrugsareillegaldrugs.ItisanoffenceinBritaintopossess,produce,
orsupplysubstancessuchasheroin,cocaine,ecstasy,amphetamines,and
cannabis.However,currentstatisticsindicatethathalfofvotingadults,and
aboutathirdofthepopulationasawhole,haveusedillegaldrugsatonetime
oranother ifsometimesonlyasanexperiment.
Thereisawellestablishedlinkbetweentheuseofharddrugs(e.g.crack
cocaineandheroin)andcrime,anditiswidelyacceptedthatdrugmisusecarriesahugesocialand
financialcosttothecountry. Muchcrime,suchasburglaryorstealinginthestreetbythreator
violence(calledmugging)isassociatedwithwantingmoneyfordrugs.Thetaskoffindingan
effectivewayofdealingwiththisproblemisanimportantissuefacingBritishsociety.

10

YOUNGPEOPLE'SATTITUDESAND ACTION

YoungpeopleinBritainareabletovoteinelectionsfromtheage
of18.
However,inthe2001generalelection,onlyoneinfivepotential
firsttimevotersactuallycasttheirvote,andtherehasbeena
greatdebate overthereasonsforthis.Researchershave
concludedthatonereasonisyoungpeople'sdistrustofpoliticians
andthepoliticalprocess.
Althoughmanyyoungpeopleshowlittleinterestinpartypolitics,
thereisstrongevidencethattheyareinterested insomespecific
politicalissues.Thosewhocommonlysaytheyarenotinterested
inpoliticsatalloftenexpressstrongconcernaboutenvironmentalissuesandcrueltytoanimals.
AsurveyoftheattitudesofyoungpeopleinEnglandandWalesin2003revealedthatcrime,drugs,
war/terrorism,racism,andhealthwerethefivemostimportantissuesthattheyfeltBritainfaced
today.Thesamesurveyaskedyoungpeopleabouttheirparticipationinpoliticalandcommunity
events.

CommunityActivitybyyoung
people
Takenpartin
86%

11

Itwasreportedthat86percent
ofyoungpeoplehadtakenpart
insomeformofcommunity
activityoverthepastyear.50per
centhadtakenpartinfund
raisingorcollectingmoneyfor
charity.

12

3. BRITAINTODAY:APROFILE
POPULATION
In2001,the populationoftheUnitedKingdomwasrecordedatjustunder59millionpeople.
UKpopulation 2001

Population Millions
2.9 1.7

5.1

England
Scotland
49.1

Wales
NIreland

Percentage
9%

5% 3%
England
Scotland
83%

Wales
NIreland

Country

Population

% of UKpopulation

England

49.1million

83%

Scotland

5.1million

9%

Wales

2.9million

5%

NIreland

1.7million

3%

Total UK

58.8million

Source:NationalStatistics
Moreinformationonthe2001CensusisavailablefromtheGovernmentStatisticswebsite,
www.statistics.gov.uk

13

PopulationGrowth
133%
140%
120%
80%

100%

UnitedKingdom
80%

EuropeanUnion

60%
17%

23%

United
Kingdom

European
Union

40%

USA
Australia

20%
0%
USA

Australia

Since1951,thepopulationhas grownby17percent.Thisislowerthantheaveragegrowth for

countriesintheEuropeanUnion(whichis23percent),andmuchsmallerthansomeother
countries,suchastheUSA(80percent),andAustralia(133percent).
TheUKbirthratewasatanalltimelowin2002and,althoughitroseslightlyin2003,Britainnowhas
anageingpopulation.Forthefirsttime,peopleaged60andoverformalargerpartofthe
populationthanchildrenunder16.Thereisalsoarecordnumberofpeopleaged85andover.
AlthoughtherehasbeenageneralincreaseinpopulationintheUKoverthepast20years,the
growthhasnotbeenuniform,andsomeareas,suchastheNorthEastandNorthWestofEngland
haveexperiencedadecline.
THE CENSUS
AcensusofthepopulationinBritainhasbeentakeneverytenyearssince1801(withtheexception
of 1941,whenBritainwasatwar).Thenextcensuswillbein2011.
Whenacensustakesplace,acensusformisdeliveredtohouseholdsthroughoutthecountry,andby
lawmustbecompleted.Theformasksforalotofinformationtoensurethatofficialstatisticsabout
thepopulationareaccurate,but it isallcompletelyconfidentialandanonymousasregardseach
individual.
Onlyafter100yearscantherecordsbeconsultedfreely.
ETHNIC DIVERSITY
ThelargestethnicminorityinBritainarepeopleofIndiandescent.Thesearefollowedbythoseof
Pakistanidescent,ofmixedethnicdescent,BlackCaribbeandescent, BlackAfricandescent,and
Bangladeshidescent.Altogetherthesegroupsmakeup7.9percentoftheUK population.
Today, abouthalfthemembersoftheAfricanCaribbean,Pakistani,IndianandBangladeshi
communitieswereborninBritain. ConsiderablenumbersofpeopleofChinese,Italian,Greekand
TurkishCypriot,Polish,Australian,Canadian,NewZealandandAmericandescentarealsoresident
withintheUK.
14

White 92%
Mixed 1.2%
Indian 1.8%
Pakistani 1.3%
Bangladeshi 0.5%
OtherAsian 0.4%
BlackCaribbean 1.0%
BlackAfrican0.8%
BlackOther 0.2%
Chinese 0.4%
Other 0.4%

UKpopulation2001
Source:NationalStatisticsfromthe2001census

WHEREDOPEOPLELIVE?
MostmembersofethnicminoritygroupsliveinEngland,wheretheymakeupninepercentofthe
totalpopulation.ThiscompareswithtwopercenteachinWalesandScotland,andlessthanone
percentinNorthernIreland.
45percentofthepopulationofethnicminoritiesliveintheLondonarea,wheretheycomprise29
percentofallresidents.MostothermembersofethnicminoritiesinBritainliveinoneoffourother
areas:theWestMidlands,theSouthEast,theNorthWest,andYorkshireandHumberside.

15

RELIGIONANDTOLERANCE
EveryoneinBritainhastherighttoreligiousfreedom.AlthoughBritainishistoricallyaChristian
society,peopleareusuallyverytoleranttowardsthefaithsofothersandthosewhohaveno
religiousbeliefs.

Religion

Christian 70%
Muslim 3%
Hindu 1%
Sikhs/Jewish/Buddhists 1%
None 25%

Inthe2001 Census, justover75percentoftheUKpopulationreportedthattheyhadareligion.

MorethansevenpeopleoutoftenstatedthatthiswasChristian.Nearlythreepercentofthe
populationdescribedtheirreligionasMuslim,andonepercentasHindu. Afterthese,thenext
largestreligiousgroupsareSikhs,Jews,andBuddhists.
AlthoughmanypeopleinBritainhaveareligiousbelief,thisisnotalwaysmatchedbyregular
attendanceatservices.ItisestimatedthatregularchurchattendanceinEngland isbetweeneight
andelevenpercentofthepopulation.ChurchattendanceinScotlandhowever,althoughdeclining,is
almosttwicethelevelforEnglandandWales.
THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH
The ChurchofEngland,orAnglicanChurchasitisalsoknown,cameintoexistencein1534.TheKing
installedhimselfasheadoftheChurch,andthetitleofSupremeGovernorhasbeenheldbytheKing
orQueeneversince.
ThemonarchatthecoronationisrequiredtosweartomaintaintheProtestantReligionintheUnited
Kingdom,andheirstothethronearenotallowedtomarryanyonewhoisnot Protestant.TheQueen
orKingalsohastherighttoappointanumberofseniorchurchofficers,includingtheArchbishopof
Canterbury,whoistheheadoftheChurch.Inpracticehowever,thePrimeMinistermakesthis
selectionontherecommendationofaspecialcommitteeappointedbytheChurch.
OTHER CHRISTIANGROUPS
FurthersplitsintheChurchtookplaceaftertheReformation,givingrisetoanumberofdifferent
Protestantdenominations.TheseincludedtheBaptists,Presbyterians,andtheSociety ofFriends
16

(orQuakers),allofwhichcontinuetoday.IntheeighteenthcenturytheMethodistmovement
developed,workinginparticularamongstpoorermembersofsociety.
InWalestoday,BaptistsandMethodistsarethetwomostwidespreaddenominations.In
ScotlandtherearemorethanamillionmembersofthePresbyterianChurch,theestablished
ChurchofScotland,knownastheKirk.

Religion

Protestant 65%
Catholic 10%
None 25%
Other 5%

AbouttenpercentofthepopulationofBritainareRomanCatholic.
THEREGIONSOFBRITAIN
Britainisarelativelysmallcountry.Thedistancefromthe
northcoastofScotlandtothesouthcoastofEnglandis
approximately600miles (almost1,000km),anditisabout320
miles(justover500km)acrossthewidestpartofEnglandand
Wales.However,nowhereinBritainismorethan75miles(120
km)fromthecoast.
ManypeopleremarkonthegreatvarietyintheBritish
landscape.Inthespaceofafewhoursitispossibletotravel
fromamajorcosmopolitancitytohistoricsites,oldcathedrals,
villages,moorsandmountains.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Inonerespect,almosteverypartofBritainisthesame.A
commonlanguage,nationalnewspapers,radio,andtelevision,
andshopswithbranchesthroughouttheUnitedKingdom
meanthateverybody,tosomedegree,sharesasimilarculture.
Howeverbeneaththeincreasinglystandardisedappearanceof
ourcitycentresandsuburbs,therearereal diversitiesand
culturaldifferencesbetweendifferentpartsoftheUnitedKingdom.

17

PossiblythetwomostdistinctiveareasofBritainareWalesandScotland.Bothhavetheirown
language.WelshistaughtinschoolsandwidelyspokeninnorthandwestWales.Gaelicisstill
spokenintheHighlandsandIslandsofScotland.ManypeoplebelievethattheWelshandtheScots
haveastrongersenseofidentityandculturethantheEnglish perhapsbroughtaboutbytheir
struggletostayindependent.Thecreation oftheAssemblyforWalesandtheScottishParliamentin
1999hasledsomepeopletosuggestthatEnglandneedsitsownparliamentandthereisnow
considerablediscussionaboutwhatisadistinctiveEnglishidentity.
AccentsareaclearindicationofregionaldifferencesinBritain.Geordie,Scouse,andCockneyare
wellknowndialectsfromTyneside,Liverpool,andLondonrespectively,butotherdifferencesin
speechexistinallpartsofthecountry.ScottishandWelshspeechisdistinctive,andvarieswithin
thosetwocountries.Insomeareasaperson'saccentwillindicatewheretheyarefrom,withina
distanceoftwentymiles.
Regionaldifferencesalsoexistinthestylesofbuildingsandthematerialsusedintheirconstruction.
Thatchedcottages,muchlesscommonthantheyoncewere,aremainlyproductsofthesouth,the
southwestandeastofEngland.Olderbuildingsareusuallymadefromlocalstone,givinghousesin
NorthYorkshire,Derbyshire,andmanyotherplacesauniqueappearance.
Theindustriallegacyofregionsalsogivesrisetodistinctstylesofarchitecture.Themilltownsof
northernEnglandaregoodexamplesofthis.Theinsularityofsomecommunities,particularlyonthe
coastandinremotecornersofBritain,hasmeantthattheirappearancehaschangedverylittlein
thepast50years.Incontrast,otherareas,whosetraditionalindustrieshavebeenreplacedby
others,arealmostunrecognisablefromwhattheywereagenerationago.
CUSTOMS ANDTRADITIONS
TouristguidescommonlypaintaviewofaruralBritainthatisnotalwaysrecognisabletothosewho
livehere.ThecountrysideisregardedbymanyasrealEngland,butinfact,thegreatmajorityof
peopleliveincitiesortheirsuburbs.People'slivesintheUK,likemanyothersthroughouttheworld
areamixtureoftheoldandthenew.Citydwellerslovetovisitthecountryside.Buttheabolitionof
foxhunting,regardedbymanycitydwellersaslongoverdue,hasbeenbitterlycontestedbymost
countrydwellerswhoseeitas adenialoftheirvaluesandtraditions.
Festivalsandothertraditionscontinuetoexistinallpartsofthecountry,buttheirexistence
dependsalmostentirelyonthecontinuedsupportofthosewholiveinthelocalcommunity.
SPORT
Sportofallkind playsamajorpartinmanypeople'slives.Football,rugby,andcricketallhavealarge
following,andsuccessonthesportingfieldisagreatsourceoflocalandnationalpride. Major
sportingevents,suchastheGrandNationalhorserace,theFootballAssociation(FA)Cup
Final,andtheWimbledontennischampionships,capturetheattentionofmanypeoplein
Britain,includingthosewhodonotnormallyfollowthesesports.
NATIONALDAYS
NationaldaysarenotcelebratedinBritaininthesamewayastheyareinanumberofother
countries.OnlyinNorthernIreland(andtheRepublicofIreland)isStPatricksDaytakenasan
officialholiday.ThegreatestcelebrationsarenormallyreservedfortheNewYearandtheChristian
festivalsofChristmasandEaster.

18

Nationaldays
When

Where

PatronSaint

1st March

Wales

St.David

17th March

NorthernIreland

StPatrick

23rd April

England

StGeorge

30th November

Scotland

StAndrew

Therearealsofourpublicholidaysayear,calledBankHolidays,whenlegislationrequiresbanksand
mostbusinessestoclose.Theseareofnonationalisticorreligioussignificance.
RELIGIOUSANDTRADITIONALFESTIVALS
MostreligiousFestivalsinBritainarebasedontheChristiantradition,butalsowidelyrecognisedare
customsandtraditionssuchasEidulFitr,Divali/Diwali/Dewali andYomKippur,belongingtoother
religions.Manyoftheseareexplainedtochildreninalltheschoolsaspartoftheirlessonsin
religiouseducation,andtheyarecelebratedbyfollowersofthesefaithsintheircommunities.
THE MAINCHRISTIANANDTRADITIONALFESTIVALS
ChristmasDay,December25th,celebratesthebirthofJesusChrist.Itisnormallyseenasatimeto
bespentathomewithonesfamily.Preparationsoftenbeginthreeorfourweeksbeforehand,as
peopledecidewhatpresentstobuyforclosefamilyandfriends.
AChristmastreeisusuallydecoratedandinstalledintheentrancehallorlivingroom,aroundwhich
presentsareplacedbeforetheyareopenedonChristmasDay.Christmascardsarenormallysentto
familyandfriendsfromthebeginningofDecember.NonChristiansusuallysendcardstoo,which
willoftensimplysaySeasonsGreetings".HousesaredecoratedwithspecialChristmasgarlands,
andsometimesawreathofhollyonthefrontdoor.Mistletoeisoftenhungabovedoorways,
beneathwhichcouplesshouldtraditionallykiss.Christmasisbothareligiousandasecularholiday,
celebratedbybelieversandnonbelieversalike.Manyfamiliesattendachurchservice,eitherat
midnightonChristmasEve,oronChristmasmorning.
Childrenhangupalongsock,stocking,orpillowcaseatthefootoftheirbed,oraroundthefireplace
forFatherChristmastofillwithpresents.OnChristmasDayfamiliestraditionallysitdowntoadinner
ofroastturkey,followedbyChristmaspudding arichsteamedpuddingmadefromsuet,driedfruit
andspices.
TheBritishFatherChristmasisacheerfuloldmanwitha beard,dressedinaredsuittrimmedwith
fur.HetravelsfromanareaclosetotheNorthPoleonasledgepulledbyreindeer,delivering
presentstochildren.TheFatherChristmaswehavetodayisoftensaidtobebasedonfolklorethat
Dutch,German,andSwedishsettlersbroughttoAmerica,althoughthereareanumberofotherrival
theoriesexplaininghisorigins.
BoxingDay,the26thDecember,referstoatimewhenservants,gardeners,andothertradespeople
usedtoreceivemoney(aChristmasbox)in appreciationfortheworktheyhaddonethroughoutthe
year.Manypeoplestillgivetopostmen.
BoxingDayisaholidayinBritain,wherepeoplevisitfamilyandfriendsandcontinuewithChristmas
festivities.Itisalsoapopulardayforsportingactivities weatherpermitting.
19

NewYear,January1st,iscelebratedinBritain,asitisinmanycountriesthroughouttheworld.
PartiesorcelebrationsbeginonNewYear'sEve,andwhenmidnightarriveseverybodycheersand
drinksatoastforgoodluckinthecomingyear.
InScotland,NewYearcanbeabiggerfestivalthanChristmas.Herethereisatraditioninmany
homesoffirstfooting,inwhichthefirstvisitoroftheNewYearbringsinparticularitemssuchas
coal,breadandwhiskyintendedtoensureprosperityforthecomingyear.
InWales,onthestrokeofmidnight,thebackdoorisopenedtoreleasetheOldYear.Itisthenlocked
tokeeptheluckin,andatthelaststroke,thefrontdooropenedtoletintheNewYear.
Easter,whichtakesplaceinMarchorApril,commemoratestheCrucifixionandResurrectionofJesus
Christ,althoughitisnamedaftertheSaxongoddessofspring,Eostre,whosefeasttookplaceatthe
springequinox.Easter,likeChristmas,hasbecomeincreasinglysecular,andoftentakenasan
opportunityforaholiday.
Eastereggs,madefromchocolate(traditionally,decoratedchicken'seggs)aregivenaspresents,
particularlytochildren,symbolisingnewlifeandthecomingofspring.Someplaceshold festivals
andfairsonEasterMonday.
OTHER TRADITIONS
StValentine'sDay,February14th,isthedaywhenboyfriends,girlfriends,husbands,andwives
traditionallyexchangecardsandpresents;cardsareunsignedasiffromsecretadmirers.
MotheringSunday,threeweeksbeforeEaster,isadayonwhichchildren,youngandold,remember
theirmothersbygivingthemflowersorchocolatesandtryingtomaketheirdayaseasyand
enjoyableaspossible.
AprilFool'sDay,April1st,isthedaywhenpeoplemay playjokesononeanother butonlyuntil12
noon.Sometimesevenradio,television,andnewspaperstrytofoolpeoplewithfake storiesand
jokes.ThetraditionisbelievedtohaveoriginatedinsixteenthcenturyFrance.
GuyFawkesNight,November5th, commemoratestheGunpowderplotin1605whenasmallgroup
ofCatholicsaresaidtohaveplottedtokilltheKingbyblowinguptheHousesofParliament.Soldiers
arrestedGuido(Guy)FawkeswhowasallegedlyguardingtheexplosivesbeneathParliament.Today
heisrememberedwithfireworksandtheburningofaGuyonabonfire.
RemembranceDay,November11th,keepsalivethememoryofthosewhodiedinbothWorldWars
andinlaterconflicts.Manypeoplenowholdatwominutesilenceat11.00aminremembranceof
this,foritwasattheeleventhhour oftheeleventhday oftheeleventhmonthin1918thattheFirst
WorldWar(oftencalledtheGreatWar)finallycametoanend.
TheterriblefightinginthefieldsofNorthernFranceandFlandersdevastatedthecountrysideand,in
thedisturbedearthofthebombcraters,itwasthepoppythatwasoneofthefirstplantstoregrow.
Sothisbloodredflowerhascometosymbolisethesacrificeofthosewhofallinwar.
Today,intheperiodbeforeRemembranceDay,artificialpoppiesaresoldinshopsandonthe
streets,andmanypeoplewearthemintheirbuttonholesinmemoryofthedead.

20

4. HOWBRITAINISGOVERNED
THEWORKINGSYSTEM
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
TheBritishsystemofgovernmentisaparliamentarydemocracy.Generalelectionsareheldatleast
everyfiveyears,andvotersineachconstituencyelecttheirMP(MemberofParliament)tositinthe
HouseofCommons.MostMPsbelongtoapoliticalparty, andthepartywiththelargestnumberof
MPsintheHouseofCommonsformsthegovernment,withthemore seniorMPsbecoming
ministersinchargeofdepartmentsofstateorheadsofcommitteesofMPs.
THEPRIME MINISTER
ThePrimeMinister(PM)istheleaderofthepartyinpower.Heorsheappoints(anddismisses)
ministersofstate,andhastheultimatechoiceandcontrolovermanyimportantpublic
appointments.ThePrimeMinistersleadingministersformtheCabinet.ThePrimeMinister
usedtobecalled(inthelawyersLatinoftheolddays)primusinterpares,firstamong
equals;butnowadaystheofficehasbecomesopowerfulthatsomepeoplelikenittothe
FrenchorAmericanPresidency,anofficedirectlyelectedbythepeopleforafixedterm.
However,aPrimeMinisterwhoisdefeatedinanimportantvoteintheHouseofCommons,or
wholosestheconfidenceoftheCabinet,canberemovedbytheirpartyatanytime.This
rarelyhappens.butwhenitdoes,theeventisdramaticandtheeffectscanbegreat.For
example,WinstonChurchillreplacedPrimeMinisterNevilleChamberlainin1940,and
MargaretThatcherwasforcedtoresignin1990,whenshelosttheconfidenceofher
colleagues.
ModernPrimeMinistershavetheirofficialresidenceat10DowningStreet,andhavea
considerablestaffofcivilservantsandpersonaladvisers.ThePMhasspecialadvisersfor
publicityandrelationswiththepressandbroadcastingmediaallofwhichaddstothepower
ofthePrimeMinisteroverhisorhercolleagues.Governmentstatementsareusuallyreported
ascomingfrom"NumberTen".IfsomethingisdirectlyattributedtothePrimeMinisteritisof
specialimportance.
THE CABINET
TheCabinetisasmallcommitteeofabouttwentyseniorpoliticianswhonormallymeetweeklyto
decidethegeneralpoliciesfortheGovernment.AmongstthoseincludedintheCabinetareministers
responsiblefortheeconomy(theChancelloroftheExchequer),lawandorderandimmigration(the
HomeSecretary),foreignaffairs(theForeignSecretary),education, health,anddefence. Cabinet
decisionsonmajormattersofpolicyandlawaresubmittedtoParliamentforapproval.
THE BRITISHCONSTITUTION
Tosaythatastatehasaconstitutioncanmeantwodifferentthingsindifferentcountries.Usuallyit
meansasetofwrittenrulesgoverninghowlawscanbemade,andsettingouttherightsandduties
ofcitizensthatcanbeenforcedbyaconstitutionalorsupremecourt.Butsometimesthereisno
writtenconstitutionsothatthetermsimplydescribeshowastateisgoverned,whatarethemain
institutionsofgovernmentandtheusualconventionsobservedbythegovernmentandthe
politicians.
21

TheUnitedKingdomconstitutionisanunwrittenconstitution.Butalthoughnolawspassedby
ParliamentcanbedirectlychallengedbyanyBritishcourt,therearerestraintsongovernment.Laws
definethemaximumlengthofparliaments,theelectoralsystem,qualificationsforcitizenship,and
therightsofnoncitizens.TherearetherulesandproceduresofParliamentitself,and
interpretationsoflawsmadebythecourtsinlightofthetraditionsofthecommonlaw.
SOVEREIGNTY
AfundamentalprincipleoftheBritishconstitutionis"thesovereigntyofParliament.Butnowadays
decisionsoftheEuropeanUnionhavetobeobservedbecauseofthetreatiesthatBritainhas
enteredinto,andBritishcourtsmustobservethejudgementsoftheEuropeanCourtandthenew
HumanRightsAct.Textbooksarewrittenon"TheBritishConstitution"andconstitutional law,butno
oneauthoritywillagreefullywithanother.Someconstitutionaldisputesarehighlypolitical suchas
whatshouldbethecompositionandpowersoftheHouseofLordsandwhatisthebestsystemof
nationalandlocalelections.
Somereformerswantawrittenconstitution,asdoesthethirdlargestpartyatWestminster,the
LiberalDemocrats.Butothers,includingtheleadersoftheLabourandConservativeparties,value
historicalcontinuitycoupledwithflexibilityandhavenowishforbigissuestobesettledbya
constitutionalcourt,asintheUnitedStatesandmanyotherdemocraticcountries.Butwhatholds
theunwrittensystemtogetheristhatpartyleadersobserveconventionsofpoliticalconduct.
CONVENTIONS
ConventionsandtraditionsareveryimportantinBritishpoliticallife.Forexample,thesecondlargest
partyintheHouseofCommonsnotmerelyopposestheGovernmentbutiscalled"HerMajestys
LoyalOpposition".IthasaguaranteedamountoftimeinParliamenttodebatemattersofitsown
choice,anditsrightsaredefendedbytheSpeaker,whochairsproceedingsintheHouseof
Commons.
TheLeaderoftheOppositionhasofficesinParliamentandreceivesfinancialsupportfromthe
Treasurybothforhis orherofficeandfortheShadowCabinet.Theseareseniormembersofthe
mainoppositionpartywho'shadow'Governmentministersindifferentdepartments.TheLeaderof
theOppositionalsohasaconstitutionalstatus(thatiswhyweusecapitalletters).Heorshestands
besidethePrimeMinisteronformalstateoccasions,aswhentheQueenopensParliamentorwhen
wreathsarelaidattheCenotaphinWhitehallonRemembranceDay.
QuestionTime,whenMembersofParliamentmayaskquestionsofgovernment ministers,isanother
parliamentaryconvention.QuestionstothePrimeMinisterbytheleaderoftheOppositionare
usuallylivelyandcombativeoccasions,oftenwidelyreported.
A COMPETITIVE PARTYSYSTEM
UndertheBritishsystemofparliamentarydemocracy,candidatesnominatedbypoliticalparties,and
sometimesindividualindependentcandidates,competeforthevotesoftheelectorateingeneral
electionsandbyelections.(ByelectionsareheldtofillavacancywhenanMPresignsordiesin
office). Thestrugglebetweenthepartiestoinfluencepublicopinion,however,iscontinuous,and
takesplacenotonlyatelectiontime.

22

THEROLEOFTHEMEDIA
ProceedingsinParliamentarenowbroadcastondigitaltelevisionandrecordedinofficialreports,
knownasHansard.AlthoughcopiesofthisareavailableinlargelibrariesandontheInternet,
www.parliament.uk,mostpeoplereceivetheirinformationaboutpoliticalissuesandeventsfrom
newspapers,TV,andradio.
InBritainthereisafreepress thatis,onethatisfreefromdirectgovernmentcontrol.Theowners
andeditorsofmostnewspapersholdstrongpoliticalopinionsandruncampaignstoinfluence
governmentpolicy.Allnewspapershavetheirownangleinreportingandcommentingonpolitical
events.Sometimesitisdifficulttodistinguishfactfromopinion.Spokesmenandwomenofall
politicalpartiesputtheirownslantonthingstoo knowntodayas'spin'.
InBritain,thelawstatesthatpoliticalreportingonradioandtelevisionmustbebalanced.In
practice,thismeansgivingequaltimetorivalviewpoints.Broadcastersarefreetointerview
politiciansinatoughandlivelyfashion,aslongastheiropponentsarealsointerviewedandtreated
inmoreorlessthesameway.
Duringageneralelection,themainpartiesaregivenfreetimeonradioandtelevisiontomakeshort
partypoliticalbroadcasts.Incitizenshiplessonsinschoolsyoungpeopleareencouragedtoread
newspaperscriticallyandtofollownewsandcurrentaffairsprogrammesonradioandtelevision.
THEFORMAL INSTITUTIONS
GovernmentandpoliticsinBritaintakesplaceinthecontextofmainlytraditionalinstitutions,laws
andconventions,whichensuretheacceptanceofelectoralorParliamentarydefeat,andpeaceful
andreasonablytolerantbehaviourbetweenpoliticalrivals.
Theinstitutionalarrangementsareaconstitutionalmonarchy,theHouseofCommons,theHouseof
Lords,theelectoralsystem,thepartysystemandpressuregroups,thejudiciary,thepolice,thecivil
service,localgovernment,andtherecentdevolvedadministrationsofScotland,WalesandNorthern
Ireland,togetherwithalargenumberofsemiindependentagenciessetupbythegovernment,
nicknamedquangos,andnowofficiallycalledNonDepartmentalPublicBodies.
A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
Britainhasaconstitutionalmonarchy.OthersexistinDenmark,Netherlands,Norway,Spain,and
Sweden.Underaconstitutionalmonarchy,thepowersoftheKingorQueenarelimitedbyeither
constitutionallaworconvention.
InBritain,theQueenorKingmustacceptthedecisionsoftheCabinetandParliament.Themonarch
canexpressherorhisviewsongovernmentmattersprivatelytothePrimeMinister,forexampleat
theirweekly"audience,butinallmatters ofgovernmentmustfollowthePrimeMinister'sadvice.
TheQueenorKingcanonly,inafamousphrase,advise,warn,andencourage.Therewouldbea
constitutionalcrisisifthemonarcheverspokeoutpubliclyeitherfororagainstgovernmentpolicy.
ThepresentQueenhasreignedsinceherfathersdeathin1952.Theheirtothethroneisheroldest
son,thePrinceofWales.Hehaslethisopinions bepubliclyknownonarangeofenvironmentaland
othermatters,butwhenhebecomesKinghewillberequiredtoactandspeakonlyinaceremonial
manner.TodaytherearesomewhoarguethatmodernBritainshouldbecomearepublic,withan
electedPresident.However,despitepubliccriticismsofsomemembersoftheRoyalFamily,the
monarchystillremainsimportantandpopularamongmostpeopleinBritaintodayasasymbolof
nationalunity.PeopledistinguishbetweenthepersonsoftheRoyalFamilyandtheinstitutionsthey
represent.
23

TheQueenisHeadofStateoftheUnitedKingdom.Sheisalsomonarchorheadofstate,inbotha
ceremonialandsymbolicsense,ofmostofthecountriesintheCommonwealth.TheQueenhas
importantceremonialrolesinthiscountry,whichincludetheopeningandclosingofParliament.
EachyearatthebeginningofanewparliamentarysessionshereadsbytraditiontheQueen's
speechfromathroneintheHouseofLords,statingtheGovernment'spoliciesforthenextsession.
Today,however,theseareentirelytheviewsofthePrimeMinisterandthecabinet.
ThemonarchalsogivesthelettersofappointmenttoholdersofhighofficewithintheGovernment,
thearmedforces,andtheChurchofEngland,butalwaysonthePrimeMinister'sadvice.
THE HOUSEOFCOMMONS
TheHouseofCommonsisthecentreofpoliticaldebateinBritain andtheultimatesourceofpower.
ItsharesthehugePalaceofWestminsterwiththeHouseofLords.Inmedievaltimes,theHouseof
Lordswasthemorepowerful,andsoyouwillstillhearsomecommentatorscalltheCommons,the
LowerHouse,andtheLords, the UpperHouse.TodaytheCommonscanalwaysoverrulethelords
whocanonlydelaythepassageofnewlaws.
TheMPswhositintheHouseofCommonsareelectedfrom645constituenciesthroughout
theUK.Theyhaveanumberofdifferentresponsibilities.Theyrepresenteveryoneintheir
constituency,theyhelpcreateandshapenewlaws,theyscrutiniseandcommentonwhatthe
Governmentisdoing,andtheyprovideaforumfordebateonimportantnationalissues.Ifyou
visittheHouseofCommonsyoumayfindfewMPsinthemaindebatingchamber.Thatis
becausemostworkisdoneincommitteesscrutinisinglegislation,investigating
administration,orpreparingareportonsomeimportantissue.
VISITINGPARLIAMENT
Therearepublicgalleriesfromwhichthe publicmaylistentodebatesinbothHouseofParliament
andmanycommittees.YoucanwritetoyourlocalMPtoaskfortickets.Thereisnocharge,butMPs
onlyhaveasmallallocationoftickets,sorequestsshouldbemadewellinadvance.Otherwise,on
theday,youcanjoinaqueueatthepublicentrance,butawaitingtimeofoneortwohoursis
commonforimportantdebates.GettingintotheHouseofLordsisusuallyeasier.Askthepolice
officeratthesameentrancewheretogo.Furtherdetailsareon UKParliamentwebsite,
www.parliament.uk.
THE SPEAKER
TheSpeakeroftheHouseofCommonsisanordinaryMPrespectedonallsides,andelectedby
fellowMPs.Heorshehastheimportantroleofkeepingorderduringpoliticaldebatesinafairand
impartialway,ofrepresentingtheHouseofCommonsonceremonialoccasions,andofensuringthe
smoothrunningofthebusinessoftheHouse.
THE WHIPS
TheWhipsaresmallgroupofMPs,appointedbytheirpartyleaders,toensuredisciplineand
attendanceof,MPsatvotingtimeintheHouseofCommons.TheChiefWhipcommonlyattends
CabinetorShadowCabinetmeetingsandwillnegotiatewiththeSpeakeroverthetimetableandthe
orderofbusiness.

24

THE HOUSEOFLORDS
TheHouseofLordsisinthemiddleofbigchanges.Untilrelativelyrecently,thememberswereall
peersof the realm;thatishereditaryaristocrats,orpeoplewhohadbeenrewardedfortheirpublic
service forexampleinwar,theEmpireorgovernment.Theyhadnospecialdutytoattendthe
HouseofLords,andmanydidnotdoso.
In1957,anewlawwaspassed,enablingthePrimeMinistertoappointpeersjustfortheirown
lifetime.TheseLifePeers,astheywereknown,weretobeworkingpeers,andwereencouragedto
attenddebatesintheHouseofLordsonaregularbasis.Todaythoseappointedaslifepeershave
normallyhadadistinguishedcareerinpolitics,business,law,orsomeotherprofession.Recently
hereditarypeershadtheirgeneralrighttoattendtheHouseofLordsremoved,butwereallowedto
electasmallnumberofthemselvestocontinuetoattend.
LifepeerscontinuetobeappointedbythefirstPrimeMinisteralthough,byconvention,always
includepeoplenominatedbytheleadersoftheotherparties.SeniorBishopsoftheChurchof
EnglandareautomaticallymembersoftheHouse ofLords,asaremostseniorjudges.Lifepeersalso
includemembersofotherChristiandenominationsandofotherfaiths Jewish,Moslem,Hindu,Sikh,
orBuddhist,aswellnonbelieversandhumanists.TodaythemainroleoftheHouseofLordsisto
examineindetailandatgreaterleisurenewlawsproposedbytheHouseofCommons,andto
suggestamendmentsorchanges.InthiswaytheLordsmaydelay butnotprevent thepassageof
newlegislation.
TheHouseofLordsalsofrequentlydebatesissues whichtheCommonspassoverorcanfindnotime
for.HouseofLords'committeesalso,fromtimetotime, reportonaparticularsocialproblemor
scrutinisesomeaspectoftheworkingsofgovernment.
Topreventagovernmentfromstayinginpowerwithoutholdinganelection,theHouseofLordshas
theabsoluterighttorejectanyproposedlawthatwouldextendthelifeofaParliamentbeyondthe
statutoryfiveyearperiod.However,ifthiswereevertohappen,theHouseofCommonscouldfirst
abolishtheHouseofLords,whocouldonlydelaysuchanact!Thisisveryunlikelybutillustrateshow
constitutionalrestraintsintheUnitedKingdomdependsmoreonconventionsthanonstrictlaw.
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
MembersoftheHouseofCommons(MPs)areelectedbyafirstpastthepostsystem.The
candidateinaconstituencywhogainsmorevotesthananyotheriselected,evenifheorshedoes
nothaveamajorityofthetotalvotescast.IntheHouseofCommons,thegovernmentisformedby
thepartygaining themajorityoftheseats,evenifmorevoteswerecastintotalfortheOpposition.
Underthissystem,thenumberofseatsgoingtothewinnerisalwaysproportionatelygreaterthan
theirtotalvote.Forthisreason,somepeoplearguethatthesystemshouldbechangedtooneor
otherformofproportionalrepresentation,asinIrelandandmostpartsofcontinentalEurope.
However,neitherofthemainUKpartiesfavoursthis,sayingthatlargemajoritiesintheHouseof
Commonsguaranteestrongandstable government,andthatPR(proportionalrepresentation)
wouldleadtocoalitionsandinstability.
However,theScottishParliamentandtheWelshAssemblywerebothsetupwithdifferentsystems
ofPRtoensurethattheywerenotcompletelydominatedbyasingleparty,ascanhappenundera
firstpastthepostsystem.Similarly,theuseofPRforelectionstotheNorthernIrelandAssemblyis
intendedtostoptheUnionist(mainlyProtestant)majorityofvotersfromtakingallthepostsof
government,andensure"powersharing"withtheIrish nationalist(overwhelminglyCatholic)
parties.InelectionsfortheEuropeanParliamentyetanotherformofPRwasadoptedtoconform
morecloselytoEuropeanUnionpractice.
25

THEPARTYSYSTEMAND PRESSURE GROUPS

TheBritishpoliticalsystemisessentiallyapartysysteminthewaythatdecisionsaremadeand
electionsconducted.ThereisonlyahandfulofindependentMPsorMPsfromsmallerparties.The
mainpoliticalpartieshavemembershipbranchesineveryconstituencythroughoutBritain.Local
partyorganisationsselectcandidates,discusspolicy,andcanvasthevotersinnational,localand
Europeanelections.Annualnationalpartyconferencesarecarefullymanagedandwellpublicised
events,wheregeneralpartypolicyisdebated,andwherelocalpartiescanhaveasignificanteffect
ontheParliamentaryleadership.
Publicopinionpollshavealsobecomeveryimportanttotheleadershipofeachparty.Partyleaders
knowthattheyhavetopersuadeandcarrylargenumbersoftheelectoratewhoarenotparty
membersandwhoinrecentyearshavebecomelessfixedandpredictableintheirvotinghabits.
PoliticalpartymembershipinBritainhasbeendecliningrapidlyinthelastfewyears,perhapsasa
consequenceofgreaterconsensusbetweenthepartiesonthemainquestionsofeconomic
management,bothseekingthemiddlegroundsothatdifferencesofpolicyandprinciplearemore
difficulttoperceive;orperhapsbecausepeoplenow,workinglongerhoursandharder,andenjoying
forthemostpartagreaterstandardofliving,canorwillgivelesstimetopublicservice.Noone
knowsifthisisatemporaryoralongtermchange.This,combinedwithfallingturnoutinelections,
especiallyamong1825yearolds,hasbecomea matterofgeneralconcernandiswidelydiscussedin
thepressandinthebroadcastingmedia.
PRESSURE GROUPS
Pressuregroupsareorganisationsthattrytoinfluencegovernmentpolicy,eitherdirectlyor
indirectly.TherearemanysuchgroupsinBritain today,andtheyareanincreasinglyimportantpart
ofpoliticallife.Generallyspeaking,ordinarycitizenstodayaremorelikelytosupportpressure
groupsthanjoinapoliticalparty.Sometimespeopledistinguishbetween"pressuregroups"and
"lobbies". Lobbiesor"interestgroups"areseennotasvoluntarybodiesofordinarycitizensbutas
thevoiceofcommercial,financial,industrial,trade,orprofessionalorganisations.
THEJUDICIARY
Sincemedievaltimes,judgeshavepridedthemselvesonbeingindependentoftheCrown.Underthe
Britishsystem,judgescanneverchallengethelegalityoflawspassedbyParliament,buttheydo
interpretlegislationandifalawcontravenesourhumanrights,judgescandeclareitincompatible.
Thelawmustthenbechanged.
Asarule,judgesincourtnormallyapplythelawinthesamewayastheyhavedoneinthepast.This
ensuresthatsimilarcasesaredealtwithinaconsistentway.Howevertherearetimeswhenthe
circumstancesofacasehavenotarisenbefore,or whenseniorjudgesdecidethatexisting
judgementsdonotreflectmodernsociety.Inthesesituations,bytheirdecisions,judgescancreate
orchangethelaw.
JudgesinBritainareappointedbyaGovernmentminister,theLordChancellor,fromnominations
putforwardbyexistingjudges.Thenamesproposedarethoseofseniorlawyerswhoarebelievedto
havetheabilityandjudgementtodothejob.Inthelastfewyears,however,therehavebeen
demands towhichthegovernmentisresponding thatthisprocessshouldbecomemore
transparent,andclearertomembersofthepressandpublic.Itisalsofeltthatjudgesshouldbe
morerepresentativeofthepublicatlarge.Manyarguethatthejudgesaredrawnfromtoonarrowit
sectionofsocietyandthatwomenandmembersofethnicminoritiesarenotsufficiently
represented.
26

THE POLICE
Thepoliceareorganisedonalocalbasis,usuallywithoneforceforeachcounty.Thelargestforceis
theMetropolitanPolice,withitsheadquartersatNewScotlandYard, whichserves London.The
policehaveoperationalindependencetheGovernmentcannotinstructthemtoarrestor
proceedagainstanyindividual.Buttheiradministrationiscontrolledbypoliceauthoritiesof
electedlocalcouncillorsandmagistrates,andbytheroleoftheHomeSecretary.An
independentauthorityinvestigatesseriouscomplaintsagainstthepolice.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
TheGovernmentisservicedbyalargenumberofindependentmanagersandadministrators,who
havethejobofcarryingout Governmentpolicy.Theyareknownascivilservants.
Thekeyfeaturesofthecivilservicearepoliticalneutralityandprofessionalism.Beforethemid
nineteenthcenturycivilservantswereappointedbyministersandhadtobesupportersoftheparty
inpower.Civilservicereformbeganintheearly19thcentury,whentheEastIndiaCompany
governedIndia.Topreventcorruptionandfavouritism,candidateswererequiredtopass
competitiveexaminations.Inthe1860sthissystemwasextendedtothehomeCivilServiceand
continueswithmanymodificationstoday.
MembersoftheBritishcivilservicetodayarepermanentservantsofthestate,workingforwhatever
partyisinpower.Thisneutralityisveryimportant,butissometimesadifficultbalancetostrike.Civil
servantsmustwarnministersiftheythinka policyisimpracticalorevenagainstthepublicinterest,
butmustultimatelyfindawayofputtingintopracticethepoliciesoftheelectedGovernment.
PoliticalpartyofficialstendtodoeverythingtheycantoputGovernmentpolicyinafavourablelight.
Civilservantsmayfindthemselvesinadilemmaiftheythinkthataministerisbeingtoooptimistic
abouttheoutcomeofaparticularpolicy,oraskingthemtodothingsspecificallytodiscreditthe
Opposition.Inthepast,commentatorssuspected thatcivilservantstooeasilyimposedtheir
departmentalpoliciesonnewministers;butnowthesuspicionisoftenthatcivilservantscanon
occasionbepushedintoopensupportforpartypoliciestheythinktobeeitherimpracticalor
incompatiblewith otherpolicies.
Amajorrestraintoncivilservantsfrombecomingtoopoliticallyinvolvedistheknowledgethat,ifa
generalelectionbringsanotherpartytopower,theywillhavetoworkwithanewGovernment and
anentirelydifferentsetofaimsand policies.WhenaGeneralElectionispendingortakingplace,top
civilservantsstudycloselytheOpposition'spoliciessothattheyarereadytoserveanew
governmentloyally.
LOCALGOVERNMENT
Towns,cities,andruralareasinBritainareadministeredbyasystemoflocalgovernmentor
councils,usuallyreferredtoaslocalauthorities.Manyareashavebothdistrictandcountycouncils,
althoughlargetownsandcitiestendtobeadministeredbyasingleauthority,calledaborough,
metropolitandistrict,orcitycouncil.
Localauthoritiesareresponsibleforprovidingarangeofcommunityservicesintheirareasuchas
education,planning,environmentalhealth,passengertransport,thefireservice,socialservices,
refusecollection,libraries,andhousing.TodaylocalauthoritiesinEnglandandWaleshave
considerablylesscontrolovertheorganisationoftheseservicesthantheydidinthepast.
Whatlocalgovernmentisrequiredtodoiscalled"mandatoryservices",asdecidedbycentral
government.Citizenscantakethemtocourtiftheydonotperformthem. Buttherearealso
27

permissiveservices,thoughlessthaninthepast:whattheymaydoiftheywanttoandcanafford
todo.InEnglandandWales, localauthoritiesmayonlyofferpermissive servicesif empoweredto
dosobygovernmentlegislation.HoweverinScotland,underdevolution,localauthoritiescan
doanythingtheyarenotexplicitlyforbiddentodo.Thisisasimplersystemtounderstandand
operate,butfinancialconstraintsmakethetwosystemsmoresimilarthanmightbesupposed.
MostofthemoneyforlocalauthorityservicescomesfromtheGovernment,providedthrough
taxation.Onlyabout20percentisfundedlocallythroughthecollectionofcounciltax.Thereare
strictsystemsofaccountability,whichdeterminehowlocalauthoritiesspendtheirmoney,andthe
Governmentisnowbeginningtoexplorehowmuchsomelocal services canbedeliveredby
voluntarycommunitygroups.Someseethisasdiminishingthepowersoflocalgovernmentbut
othersseeitasawayofinvolvingmoreordinarycitizensinhowtheirareaisrun.
ElectionsforlocalgovernmentcouncillorsareheldinMayeachyear.Many butnotallcandidates
standasmembersofapoliticalparty.AfewcitiesinBritain,includingLondon,alsohavetheirown
electedmayors,withincreasedpowerstomanagelocalaffairs.Servingonthelocalcouncilisstill
frequentlythefirststep(butlesssothaninthepast)togettingthelocalpartytonominatesomeone
asacandidateforelectiontothenationalParliamentorAssemblyortotheEuropeanParliamentin
Strasbourg.
DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATION
In1997,theGovernmentbeganaprogrammeofdevolvingpowerfromcentralgovernment,with
theintentionofgivingpeoplein WalesandScotlandgreatercontrolovermattersthatdirectlyaffect
them.Since1999therehasbeenanAssemblyinWales andaParliamentinScotland,andthe
GovernmentisnowproposingtheideaofregionalgovernmentsinEnglandwhenthereisaclear
localdemand.
However,policyandlawsgoverningdefence,foreignaffairs,taxation andsocialsecurityremain
underthecontroloftheUKGovernmentinLondon,althoughtheseissuesmaybedebatedinthe
WelshAssemblyandtheScottishParliament.
THE NATIONALASSEMBLYFORWALES
TheNationalAssemblyforWalesissituatedinCardiff.Ithas60AssemblyMembers(AMs)and
electionsareheldeveryfouryears.MemberscanspeakineitherEnglishorWelshandallits
publicationsareinbothlanguages.TheAssemblydoesnothavethepowertomakeseparatelaws
forWalesbutitmayproposelawsforthedecisionoftheUKParliamentinWestminster.However,it
doeshavethepowertodecideonmanyotherimportantmatters,suchaseducationpolicy,the
environment,healthservices,transportandlocalgovernment,wherethepresentlawsallowWelsh
ministersagreatdealofdiscretioninmakingdetailedregulations.
THEPARLIAMENTOFSCOTLAND
TheParliamentofScotlandinEdinburgharoseastheresultofalongcampaignbypeopleinScotland
formoreindependenceanddemocraticcontrol.Foralongtimetherehadbeenadevolved
administrationrunbytheScottishOffice,butnonationalelectedbody.AreferendumforaScottish
Parliament,in1979,didnotgainenoughsupport,butwhenanotherwasheldin1997,theelectorate
gaveaclearyesbothtoestablishingaScottishParliamentandtoithavinglimitedpowerstovary
nationalincometax.

28

Todaythereare129MembersoftheScottishParliament(MSP's)inEdinburgh,whoareelectedbya
formofproportionalrepresentation.UnliketheWelshAssembly,theScottishParliamentmaypass
legislationonanythingnotspecificallyreservedtoWestminster(foreignaffairs,defence,general
economicpolicy,andsocialsecurity).
TheScottishParliamentisfundedbyagrantfromtheUKGovernmentandcanspendithowit
chooses.Ithasthelegalpowertomakesmallchangesinthelowerbaserateofincometax,whichit
hasnotexercisedsofar,andhasadopteditsownproceduresfordebate,thepassageoflegislation
andaccesstothepublic alldeliberatelydifferentfromthetraditionalwaysofWestminster.
THE NORTHERN IRELANDASSEMBLY
TheNorthernIrelandParliament,oftencalledStormontafterthebuildingwhereit met,was
establishedin1922,followingthedivisionofIrelandaftercivilwar.Protestantpoliticalparties,
however,dominatedtheParliament.andabolishedtheelectoralsystemofproportional
representationthatwasdesignedtoprotecttheCatholicminority acommunitywhofaced
considerablediscriminationinhousingandjobsinthepublicservices.
TheGovernmentinLondonpaidlittleattentiontotheseproblemsuntil,50yearslater,protests,
riots,andacivildisobediencecampaignledthemtoabolishStormontwhenreformsfailedto
materialise.ConflictsincreasedbetweenProtestantandCatholicgroups,theformerdeterminedto
remainpartoftheUnitedKingdom,whilethelatterdeterminedtoachieveunitywiththeIrish
Republic.
Therefollowedmanyyearsofcommunaldistrust,violence,andterrorism.Butafteranegotiated
ceasefirebyboththemainparamilitarygroups theIRA(theIrishRepublicanArmy),andtheUDA
(theUlsterDefenceAssociation) theGoodFridayAgreementwassignedin1998betweenthemain
partiesandendorsedbytheIrishandBritishgovernments,workingcloselytogether.
Shortlyafterwards,theNorthernIrelandAssemblywasestablished,withapowersharingagreement
inwhichthemainpartiesdividedtheministerialofficesbetweenthem.TheAssemblyhas108
electedmembers,withpowerstodecideonmatterssuchaseducation,agriculture,environment,
health,andsocialservicesinNorthernIreland.
InviewofthepoliticalsituationinNorthernIreland,theUKgovernmentkeptthepowertosuspend
theAssemblyifthepoliticalleaderscouldnolongeragreetoworktogetheroriftheAssemblywas
notworkingintheinterestsofthepeopleofNorthernIreland.Thishashappenedonanumberof
occasions.
NONDEPARTMENTAL PUBLICBODIES
Muchofgovernmentthataffectsusallisconductednotdirectly,butthroughamultitudeof
agencieswithvariousdegreesofindependence.TheseareorganisationsthatParliamentcancreate
orabolish,orchangetheirpowersandroles, butarenotadirectpartofthecivilservice.Theyare
sometimescalledquangos quasiautonomousnongovernmentalorganisations.
A FEW EXAMPLESOFNONDEPARTMENTALPUBLIC BODIES
Tradingbodiessetupbycentralgovernmentthatraiserevenue:HerMajesty'sStationeryOffice
(officialandsemiofficialpublications),ForestryCommission,NationalSavingsBank,CrownEstates
Commission...

29

Spendingagenciesfundedbygovernment:RegionalHealthAuthorities,HigherEducation
fundingCouncils,SportsCouncil,ArtsCouncil,LegalServicesCommission,MedicalResearch
Council...
Quasijudicialandprosecutingbodies:MonopoliesandMergersCommission,CriminalInjuries
CompensationAuthority,PoliceComplaintsAuthority,CrownProsecutionService...
StatutoryAdvisoryBodiestoMinisters:GamingBoard,HealthandSafetyCommission,Law
Commission,CommissionforRacialEquality,EqualOpportunitiesCommission,AdvisoryBoard
onNaturalisationandIntegration
Developmentagencies (manyofwhicharepublicprivatepartnerships):ScottishEnterprise,
HighlandsandIslandsDevelopmentBoard(Scotland),WelshDevelopmentAgency,Rural
DevelopmentCommission,severalregionalUrbanDevelopmentCorporations...
BRITAININ EUROPE ANDTHEWORLD
InadditiontoBritain'shistoricalandculturaltieswithcountriesthroughoutEurope,twomajor
developmentshaveoccurredsincetheendoftheSecondWorldWarin1945closelylinkingBritain
totheremainderofEurope.
THECOUNCILOFEUROPE
TheCouncilofEuropewascreatedin1949,andBritainwasoneofthefoundermembers.Itisan
organisationwith50memberstates,workingtoprotecthumanrightsandseeksolutionsto
problemsfacingEuropeansocietytoday.TheCouncilofEuropehasnopowertomakelaws,but
does drawupconventionsandcharters,whichstatesagreetofollow.Examplesofthesearethe
EuropeanConventiononHumanRights,measurestotracetheassetsassociatedwithorganised
crime,andadirectiveforeducationfordemocraticcitizenshipinschools.
THEEUROPEANUNION
TheEuropeanUnionoriginatedintheperiodimmediatelyaftertheSecondWorldWarwhen
Belgium,France,Luxembourg,theNetherlandsandWestGermanysignedanagreementputtingall
theircoalandsteelproductionunderthecontrol ofasingleauthority.Animportantreasonfordoing
thiswasthebeliefthatcooperationbetweenthesestateswouldreducethelikelihoodofanother
Europeanwar.
BritainrefusedtojointhisgroupatthebeginningandonlybecamepartoftheEuropeanUnion(or
EuropeanEconomicCommunity,asitwasthenknown)in1973aftertwicebeingvetoedbyFrance.
In2004,tennewmembercountriesjoinedtheEUbringingmembershiptoatotalof25.
ThemainaimbehindtheEuropeanUniontodayisformemberstates tobecomeasinglemarket.To
achievethis,measureshavegraduallybeenintroducedtoremovetariffbarriersandtohelppeople,
goods andservicesmovefreelyandeasilybetweenmemberstates.Thishasinvolvedagreatdealof
regulationbeingimposedonbusinessesandconsumers,andhasnotalwaysbeenpopular.
CitizensofEUmemberstateshavetherighttotraveltoanyEUcountryaslongastheyhaveavalid
passportoridentitycard.Thisrightmayberestrictedonlyforreasonsofpublichealth, publicorder,
orpublicsecurity.TheyalsohavetherighttoworkinotherEUcountries,andmustbeoffered
employmentunderthesameconditionsascitizensofthatstate.

30

THECOUNCILOFMINISTERS
TheCouncilofMinistersisoneofthemostinfluential bodiesintheEU.Itismadeupofgovernment
ministersmeetingperiodicallyfromeachmemberstatewithpowerstoproposenewlawsandtake
importantdecisionsabouthowtheEUisrun.
THEEUROPEANCOMMISSION
BasedinBrussels,theEuropeanCommission isratherlikethecivilserviceoftheEuropeanUnion,
takingcareofthedaytodayrunningoftheorganisation.OneoftheimportantjobstheEuropean
CommissionistodraftproposalsfornewEUpoliciesandlaw.
THEEUROPEANPARLIAMENT
TheEuropeanParliamentmeetsinStrasbourginnortheasternFrance.Eachcountryelectsmembers
roughlyproportionaltoitspopulation.ElectionsforMembersoftheEuropeanParliament(MEPs)
areheldeveryfiveyears.
Theparliamentscrutinisesanddebatestheproposals,decisions,andexpendituresofthe
Commission,butdoesnotdecidepolicy.MEPshavetheultimatepowertorefusetoagreeEU
expenditure,buthaveneverdoneso althoughtheyhavehelditup.Yetthethreathasproved
effectiveonseveraloccasions.
EUROPEANUNIONLAW
EuropeanUnionlawisanimportantsourceoflawinBritain.EUlegislationconsistsmainlyof
RegulationsandDirectives.Regulationsarespecificrules,suchasthoselimitingthehoursthat
driversofgoodsvehiclescanwork,whichautomaticallyhavetheforceoflawinallEU member
states.Regulationsoverridenationallegislationandmustbefollowedbythecourtsineach
memberstate.
Directivesaregeneralrequirementsthatmustbeintroducedwithinasettime,butthewayin which
theyareimplementedislefttoeachmemberstate.Anexampleofthisistheproceduresthatmust
befollowedbycompanieswhenmakingstaffredundant.
AllproposalsfornewEUlawsareexaminedbyacommitteeoftheUKParliament,whichthen
recommendsanychangesoramendmentstoministers,whowilldecidewhethertotryandchange
orrenegotiatethem.
THECOMMONWEALTH
TheCommonwealtharoseoutoftheformerBritishEmpirethatonceincludedmuchofAfricaand
theWestIndies,Canada,the Indiansubcontinent,AustraliaandNewZealand.Since1945,almostall
thesecountrieshavebecomeindependentandtogetherformalooseassociationcalledthe
Commonwealth,withtheCrownat itssymbolichead.
OnlytheUnitedNationsisalargerinternationalorganisationthantheBritishCommonwealth.The
Commonwealthhasamembershipof54states,whichtogethercontain1.7billionpeople 30per
centoftheworld'spopulation.Itsaimsincludethedevelopmentofdemocracy,goodgovernment,
andtheeradicationofpoverty,butithasnopoweroveritsmembersotherthanthatofpersuasion
andonlyrarelyactstogetheroninternationalissues.

31

Acommonlanguage,similaritiesinculture,and(withsomeexceptions)mutualrecognitionof
professionalqualifications,hasgreatlyassistedthemovementofpeoplewithintheCommonwealth,
andhadamajoreffectonmigrationbothtoandfromBritain.
THEUNITEDNATIONS
Britain,likemostcountriesintheworld,isamemberoftheUnitedNations(UN) aninternational
organisation,workingtopreventwarandtomaintaininternationalpeaceandsecurity.Britainisa
permanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.Thefunctionsofthisgroupincluderecommending
actionbytheUNintheeventofinternationalcrises andthreatstopeace.
TwoveryimportantdocumentsproducedbytheUnitedNationsaretheUniversalDeclarationof
HumanRightsandtheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChild.Britainhassignedandratifiedboth
oftheseagreements.Althoughneitherhavetheforceoflaw,theyareimportantmeasuresbywhich
thebehaviourofastatecanbejudged,andtheyareincreasinglyusedbothinpoliticaldebateandin
legalcases,toreinforcepointsoflaw.

THEORDINARYCITIZEN
THERIGHTTOVOTE
Howdoestheordinarycitizenconnecttogovernment?Aswehaveseen,fulldemocracycame
slowlytoBritain.Onlyin1928didbothmenandwomenaged21andovergaintherighttoVote.
Thepresentvotingageof18wassetin1969.
BothBritishbornandnaturalised citizenshavefullcivicrightsandduties(suchasjuryservice),
includingtherighttovoteinallelections,aslongastheyareontheelectoralregister.Permanent
residentswhoarenotcitizenshaveallcivilandwelfarerightsexcepttherighttoholdaBritish
passportandageneralrighttovote.
THEELECTORALREGISTER
Inordertovoteinaparliamentary,local,orEuropeanelection,youmusthaveyournameonthe
registerofelectors,knownastheelectoralregister.Ifyouareeligibletovote youmayregisterat
anytimebycontactingyourlocalcouncilelectionregistrationoffice.Voterregistrationformsare
alsoavailable,inEnglish,Welsh,andanumberofotherlanguages,viatheInternetfromthe
ElectoralCommission,www.electoralcommission.org.uk
Howevertheelectoralregisterisalsoupdatedannuallyandanelectoralregistrationformissentto
allhouseholdsinSeptemberorOctobereachyear.Theformshouldbecompletedaccordingtothe
instructions,andshouldincludeeveryoneeligibletovotewhoisresidentinthehouseholdon15th
October.
Bylaw,alocalauthorityhastomaketheelectoralregisteravailableforanyonetolookat.The
registerisheldatthelocalelectoralregistrationoffice(orcouncilofficeinEnglandandWales)and
somepublicbuildings,suchaslibraries(howeverthisisnotalwayspossibleasnewregulations
requirethatanyviewingoftheelectoralregisterissupervised,andlibrariesdonotalwayshavethe
necessaryresources).
Youhavetherighttohaveyournameplacedontheelectoralregisterifyouareaged18or
overandacitizenoftheUnitedKingdom,theCommonwealth,oraEuropeanUnionmember
state.CitizensoftheUnitedKingdom,theCommonwealth,andtheIrishRepublicresidentin
32

thiscountrymayvoteinallpublicelections.CitizensofEUstates,residentintheUK,have
therighttovoteinallbutnationalparliamentaryelections.
PARTICIPATION
ThenumberofpeopleturningouttovoteinparliamentaryelectionsinBritainhasbeen fallingfor
severalyears,especiallyamongsttheyoung.IntheGeneralElectionof2001,lessthanhalfof
votersbelowtheageof25actuallyvoted.TheGovernmentandthepoliticalpartiesarelookingfor
waysinwhichthistrendmightbereversed.
STANDINGFOROFFICE
CitizensoftheUnitedKingdom,theIrishRepublic,ortheCommonwealth,aged21orover,may
standforpublicoffice.However,therearesomeexceptions,whichincludepeers,membersofthe
armedforces,civilservants,andthosefound guiltyofcertaincriminaloffences.
Tobecomealocalcouncillor,acandidatemusthavealocalconnectionwiththearea,through
work,bybeingontheelectoralregister,orthroughrentingorowninglandorproperty.
Thisrule,however,doesnotapply toMPs,MEPs,ortomembersoftheScottishParliament,orthe
WelshorNorthernIrelandAssemblies.Candidatesstandingforthesebodiesmustpay a depositof
500,whichisnotreturnediftheyreceivelessthanfivepercentofthevote.Thedepositfor
candidatesstandingasaMemberoftheEuropeanParliamentis5,000.Thisistodiscourage
frivolousorhopelesscandidates,thoughmanystilltrytheirluck.
CONTACTINGELECTEDMEMBERS
Allelectedmembershaveadutytoserveandrepresenttheinterestsoftheirconstituents.Contact
detailsofallyourrepresentativesandtheirpartiesareavailablefromthelocallibrary.Thoseof
AssemblyMembers,MPs,andMEPsarelistedinthephone bookandYellowPages. AnMPmaybe
reachedeitherattheirconstituencyofficeortheirofficeintheHouseofCommonsbyletter
orphone.Theaddress:HouseofCommons,Westminster,LondonSWIA0AA,tel0207219
3000.
ManyAssemblyMembers,MPs,andMEPsholdregularlocal'surgeries',oftenonSaturday
mornings.Thesearegenerallyadvertisedinthelocalpaper,andallowconstituentstocallin
persontoraisemattersofconcern.YoucanalsofindoutthenameoflocalMPandgetin
touchwiththembyfaxthroughthewebsite,www.writetothem.comThisserviceisfree.

33

34

5. GUIDANCE NOTESFORNATURALISATION
BRITISHNATIONALITY ACT1981
BN7 NaturalisationasaBritishCitizen.
1.

TheHomeSecretarymay, ifhethinksfit, naturaliseapersonwhomeetscertain

requirements.Thesearesetoutinsection6of,andSchedule1to,theBritishNationalityAct
1981,andaredescribedbelow.
ThepersonwhoisapplyingmustmeettherequirementsthataresetoutinPartAofthis
chapter,unlessheorsheismarriedtoaBritishcitizen.Ifthepersonapplyingisthehusband
orwifeofaBritishcitizen,heorsheonlyneedstomeettherequirementsthataresetoutin
PartBofthischapter.
A.

2.

Requirements

Theperson applyingmust:
a.

be18orover;

b.

notbeofunsoundmind;

c.

beofgoodcharacter;

d.

havesufficientknowledgeofEnglish,WelshorScottishGaelic(seeNote1);

e.
intendtohavehisorherhome(ormainhomeifthereismorethanone)in the
UnitedKingdom.Thepersonapplyingmay,however,liveabroadifheorsheplanstogo
into,orcontinueinCrownserviceworkingdirectlyfortheGovernmentoftheUnited
Kingdom(seeNote2),ifheorsheplanstoworkwithaninternationalorganisationwhich
theUnitedKingdomisamemberof,orworkforacompanyorassociationestablishedinthe
UnitedKingdom;and
f.
meettheresidentialrequirementssetoutinparagraphs3and4below;orthe
requirementdescribedinparagraph5.
3.

Theresidentialrequirementsarethat:
a.
thepersonapplyingwasintheUnitedKingdom(seeNote3)atthebeginningofthe
fiveyearperiodthatendedonthedatetheapplicationisreceived;
b.
inthefiveyearperiod,heorshewasnotoutsidetheUnitedKingdomformorethan
450days(seeNote4);
c.
inthelast12monthsofthatfiveyearperiod,heorshewasnotoutsidetheUnited
Kingdomformorethan90days;
d.
inthelast12monthsofthatfiveyearperiod,hisorherstayintheUnitedKingdom
wasnotsubjecttoanytimelimitundertheimmigrationlaws(seeNote5);and
e.
35

heorshewasnot,atanytimeinthatfiveyearperiod,intheUnitedKingdomin

breachoftheimmigrationlaws.
Specialcircumstances
4.

Everyonewhoapplies(unlesscoveredbyparagraph5below)mustbefreefromanytime
restrictionundertheimmigrationlawswhentheapplicationisreceived.Theymustalso
meetthefirstoftherequirementsdescribedinparagraph3.ButtheHomeSecretarymay
makeanexceptiontotheotherrequirements(includingtheoneinNote4abouttimewhich
doesnotcount)ifhethinksthattherearespecialcircumstances.Ifyoudonotmeetthe
requirements,butyoubelievetherearespecialcircumstancesinyourcase,youshould
explainthemwhen youapply.
Crownservice

5.

AnalternativetothefiveyearresidentialrequirementisCrownserviceunderthe
GovernmentoftheUnitedKingdom(seeNote2).Thereisnofixedperiodofservicebecause
naturalisationwillnotbegrantedifyoujustcompleteaperiodofsatisfactoryservice.If
someoneappliesbecauseofCrownservice,heorsheshould,amongotherthings,haveheld
aresponsiblepostoverseas,givenoutstandingservice,andhavesomecloseconnectionwith
theUnitedKingdom.IfsomeoneappliesfornaturalisationonthebasisofCrownservice,he
orshemustbeservingoutsidetheUnitedKingdomwhentheapplicationisreceived.
B.RequirementsforapersonapplyingasthehusbandorwifeofaBritishcitizen

6.

Thepersonapplyingmust:
a.

be18orover;

b.

notbe ofunsoundmind;

c.

beofgoodcharacter;

d.

havesufficientknowledgeofEnglish,WelshorScottishGaelic(seenote1);

e.

bemarriedtoaBritishcitizenonthedatetheapplicationisreceived;and

f.
eithermeettheresidentialrequirements setoutinparagraph7and8below,orbe
marriedtoaBritishcitizenwhoisworkingabroad,orislikelysoontobepostedabroad,in
CrownserviceundertheGovernmentoftheUnitedKingdom(seeNote2)orthe
governmentofaqualifyingterritory(seeNote6)orinservicespeciallydesignatedunder
section2(3)oftheBritishNationalityAct1981,andwhowasrecruitedintheUnited
Kingdomtothatservice(seeparagraph9below).
7.

Theresidentialrequirementsarethat:
a.
thepersonapplyingwasintheUnitedKingdom(seeNote3)atthebeginningofthe
threeyearperiodthatendedonthedatetheapplicationisreceived;
b.
onthedatetheapplicationisreceived,theapplicant'sstayintheUnitedKingdomis
notsubjecttoanytimelimitunderthe immigrationlaws(seeNote5);
c.

inthethreeyearperiod,heorshewasnotoutsidetheUnitedKingdomformore
36

than270days(seeNote4);
d.
inthelast12monthsofthatthreeyearperiod,heorshewasnotoutsidetheUnited
Kingdomformorethan90days;and
e.
heorshewasnot,atanytimeinthatthreeyearperiod,intheUnitedKingdomin
breachoftheimmigrationlaws.
Specialcircumstances
8.

Everyonewhoapplies(unlesstheyarecoveredbyparagraph9below)mustmeetthefirst
tworequirementsdescribedinparagraph7.ButtheHomeSecretarymaymakeanexception
totheotherrequirements(includingtheoneinNote4abouttimewhichdoesnotcount)if
hethinksthattherearespecialcircumstances.Ifyoudonotmeettherequirements,butyou
believetherearespecialcircumstancesinyourcase,youshouldexplainthemwhenyou
apply.

9.

IfthepersonapplyingismarriedtoaBritishcitizenwho,onthedatetheapplicationis
received,isserving,orislikelysoontobeposted,abroadin:

CrownserviceundertheGovernmentoftheUnitedKingdom(seeNote2)ora
qualifyingterritory(seeNote6);or
servicespeciallydesignatedundersection2(3)oftheBritishNationalityAct1981;and
heorshewasrecruitedintheUnitedKingdom.

TheHomeSecretarymaymakeanexceptiontotherequirementssetoutinparagraph7a,c,dande
ifhethinksthattherearespecialcircumstances.Ifyouthinkthattherearespecialcircumstancesin
yourcase,youshouldexplainthemwhenyouapply.
C. Addressesforgeneralenquiries,leaflets,applicationformsandapplications
10.

IfyouwanttoapplytobenaturalisedasaBritishcitizen,youcangetFormANandaguideat
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/applying/british_nationality/application_f
orms/downloads.Maincontent.0001.file.tmp/AN_form.pdf.IfyouareinEngland,Scotland,
WalesorNorthernIrelandyoucanalsogetaformandguideorotherinformationby
contactingoneofthefollowingaddresses:
Addressforgeneralenquiriesandtoobtainleafletsandapplicationforms:
HomeOfficeIND
NationalityEnquiriesTeam
ManagedMigration Directorate
POBox12
Liverpool.L692UX
Addresstowhichcompletedapplicationsforcitizenshipshouldbesent:
HomeOfficeIND
ManagedMigration
NationalityGroup
POBox12
Liverpool
L692UX
Telephone:08450105200
37

IfyouareintheChannelIslands ortheIsleofMan,pleasecontacttheLieutenantGovernor.
IfyouareinaforeigncountryortheRepublicofIreland,pleasecontactyournearest
EmbassyorConsulate.IfyouareinaCommonwealthcountry,pleasecontactyournearest
BritishHighCommission.IfyouareinaBritishoverseasterritory,pleasecontactthe
Governor.

11.

12.

Minorchildren
Minorchildren(under18)cannotbeincludedincertificatesofnaturalisationthatare
grantedtotheirparents.However,theymaybeconsideredforregistration asBritish
citizens.Apersonapplyingfornaturalisationshouldincludethenamesanddetailsofallhis
orherminorchildrenwhoarenotBritishcitizensandwhomheorshewantstohave
registered.Wenormallyneedpermissionfrombothparents.
Fees
Youhavetopayafeewhenyouapplyandmustsenditwithyourapplication.Ifyouwriteor
telephoneusfortheapplicationformandguide,wewillalsosendyouafeesleaflet.
Dealingwiththeapplication

13.

TheHomeOfficewillsendanacknowledgementwhenwereceiveyourapplication.Enquiries
aremadeintoeveryapplicationandyoumaybeinterviewedbythepoliceoranother
representative.Thetimeittakesustodealwithanapplicationvariesaccordingtoindividual
circumstancesandhowmanyapplicationswehavetodealwithatthetime.
Dualnationality
PeoplewhoarenaturalisedasBritishcitizensmay,asaresult,loseorrisklosingtheir
existingnationalityorcitizenship.Thisdependsonthelawofthecountryconcerned.You
shouldcontacttheauthoritiesofthecountryconcernedbeforeyouapplyfornaturalisation.
Notes

1.

Thepersonapplyingmusthaveagoodenoughknowledgeofthelanguagetodealwith
everydaysituations.Iftheperson isrelyingonknowledgeofEnglish,heorshemustprovide
evidence(i.e.aneducationalcertificateorconfirmationbyadesignatedperson)showing
thathisorherknowledgeofthelanguageisat,orhigherthan,ESOLEntryLevel3.Formore
detailedinformationcontacttheNationalityEnquiriesteamorBritishPostabroad(seepara
10).TheHomeSecretarymaydecidethatthepersondoesnothavetomeetthis
requirementifheorsheisoldorphysicallyormentallydisabled.

2.

"CrownserviceundertheGovernmentoftheUnitedKingdom"includesCrownserviceunder
theNorthernIrelandGovernmentandundertheScottishAdministration.

3.

Inthesepages,theUnitedKingdommeansEngland,Scotland,Wales,NorthernIreland,the
ChannelIslandsandtheIsleofMan.

4.

PeriodsspentintheUnitedKingdom:
a.
whileyouareexemptfromimmigrationcontrol(forexample,asadiplomat,orasa
memberoftheBritishArmedForcesorasamemberofvisitingforces);or
38

b.
inanyplaceofdetention(suchasaprison)followingaconvictionorunderthepowers
oftheimmigrationlaws(orwhileyouareillegallyabsentfromsuchaplace)
donotnormallycounttowardstheresidencerequirements.Howeverspecialconsiderations
applytoformerBritishArmedForcespersonnel.
5.

IfyouareanEEAnationalwhohasa conditional rightofresidenceintheUnitedKingdom

underEuropeanCommunity(EC)law(suchasaworkerorbusinessperson),you arenot
regardedasfreeofatimelimitundertheimmigrationlaws.Youneed toobtainindefinite
leavetoremainintheUnitedKingdombeforeapplyingfornaturalisation.Unlessyouare
marriedtoaBritishcitizen,youshouldalsohaveindefiniteleavetoremainfor12months
beforeyouapply.
IfyouareanEEAnationalwhohasan unconditional rightofresidenceunderEClaw(suchas
aretiredpersonorsomeonewhoisunabletoworkbecauseofincapacity),you are regarded
asfreeofimmigrationrestrictions.
IfyouareafamilymemberofanEEAnational,youmaymeetthe"notimelimit"
requirementinyourownright.Ifyoudonot,yourpositionwilldependuponwhetherthe
EEAnationalhasaconditionalorunconditionalrightofresidence(evenifyouarenotanEEA
national).
Since1June2002,Swissnationalsandthefamilymembershaveenjoyedsimilarresidence
rightstoEEAnationals.Theyarenotregardedashavingbeenfreeofimmigrationtime
restrictionsbeforethatdateunlesstheyhadindefiniteleavetoenterorremaininthe
UnitedKingdom.From1June2002,theyareregardedasbeingfreeofimmigrationtime
restrictionsinthecircumstancesdescribedabove.

6.

The"qualifyingterritories"areAnguilla,Bermuda,BritishAntarcticTerritory,Cayman
Islands,FalklandsIslands,Gibraltar,Montserrat,Pitcairn,Henderson,DucieandOeno
Islands,StHelenaandDependencies,SouthGeorgiaandtheSouthSandwichIslands,Turks
andCaicosIslands,andVirginIslands.
ThelawcoveringnaturalisationisintheBritishNationalityAct1981 andtheRegulations
madeunderit.TheinformationgivenhereisonlyabriefguidetothelawandtotheHome
Secretary'spolicy.Itisnotacompletestatementofeitherthelaworpolicy.

ChangesWithEffectFrom1stNovember2005 TheNeedtoDemonstrateKnowledgeofLifeinthe
UnitedKingdomaswellasLanguageability
Ifyouareapplyingfornaturalisationonorafter1November2005youwillneedtoproveknowledge
oflifeintheUKaswellasyourEnglishlanguageability.Therewillbetwoways inwhichyoucando
this.
IfyouarealreadyatoraboveESOL(EnglishforSpeakersofotherlanguages)Entry3standardof
Englishyouwillbeabletoundertakeaspeciallydevelopedshorttestcalled"LifeintheUKTest".
Or
IfyouhavenotreachedESOLEntry3youwillneedtogainanapprovedEnglishforSpeakersofOther
Languages(ESOL)qualificationthroughattendinganESOLcoursewhichincludescitizenship
39

materialsatalocalcollege.
Detailsofthetwowaysinwhich youcanmeetthelanguageandknowledgerequirementsforthe
purposesofnaturalisationaresetoutbelow.
Ifyouarenotsurewhatyourleveloflanguageabilityis,youshouldworkthroughthetutorialonthe
lifeintheUKtestwebsitewww.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk.Ifyouareunabletofullyunderstandthe
informationthenitislikelyyouwillneedtoenrolonanESOLwithcitizenshipcourse.
ExemptionfrommeetingthelanguageandknowledgeoflifeintheUKrequirements ageand
infirmity.
Itis possibletowaivethelanguageandknowledgeoflifeintheUKrequirementwhereitwouldbe
unreasonabletoexpecttheapplicanttofulfilitbecauseofageorphysicalormentalcondition.This
wouldnormallybedoneincaseswheretheapplicantisaged 65orover.
Thegroundsforexemptionofyoungerpeopleneedtobecompelling,suchaswheretheapplicant:
i.
issufferingfromalongtermillnessordisabilitywhichseverelyrestrictsmobilityandability
toattendlanguageclasses;or
ii.
hasamentalimpairmentwhichmeansthattheyareunabletolearnanotherlanguage.
LifeintheUKTest
YoumaytakethistestifyourlanguageabilityistheequivalentofESOLEntry3orabove.Youwill
needtotakethetestonacomputeratoneoftheLifeintheUKTestcentresintheUK.Thetestis
managedonbehalfoftheHomeOfficebyUfiLtd,anorganisationbasedinSheffield,whichis
responsiblefor"learndirect"and"UKonlinecentres"Thetestwillconsistof24questionsbasedon
theinformation containedinthehandbook"LifeintheUnitedKingdom:AJourneytoCitizenship.
Thetestitselfwillcostyou34andyouwillbetoldtheresultontheday.
Furtherdetailscanbefoundonthewebsite www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk.Thiswebsitealsocontainsa
fulllistofcentreswhereyoucantakethetest.OryoucancalltheLifeintheUKTesthelplineon
08000154245.
Ifyoupassthistestyouwill not needtoproduceadditionalproofof yourknowledgeofEnglish.This
isbecausetopassthetestyouwillneedtobecompetentinEnglish.
Ifyouarenotsurewhatyourleveloflanguageabilityis,youshouldworkthroughthetutorialonthe
lifeintheUKtestwebsite.www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk.Ifyoudonotfullyunderstandthe
informationthenitislikelyyouwillneedtoenrolonanESOLwithcitizenshipcourse.
Youwillneedtoconfirmyouridentitybytakingyourpassportorphotographicdrivinglicencewith
you.Ifyouholdneitheroftheseyouwillbeaskedtoprovideapassportsizephotographofyourself.
Thismusthavebeensignedonthebackbyaprofessionalpersonwhoknowsyoupersonally.The
photographwillthenbesignedbyamemberthetestcentrestaffandforwarded totheHomeOffice.
Everyonesittingthetestwillhavetopayafee.Therewillbenoexemptions.Thecostwillbe34,

40

payablebeforeyoutakethetest.TheLifeintheUKTestwebsiteortheUKTestHelplinewillgive
informationonthemethodsofpaymentacceptedbyindividualcentres.
o0O0o

41

42

ABOUT THEAUTHORS

PaulLancaster isafreelance writerwithover25yearsexperiencepresentinganddeveloping

trainingpackages.Paul,althoughanIrishcitizen,waseducatedinBritainbuthe hasspentmostof
his workinglife living andworkingabroad.
Hecurrentlyhelives inEngland with his SouthAfrican wife, MaryAnnand their JackRussell Terrier,
Eddie.
MaryAnnCoull wasborninJohannesburg,SouthAfricaandimmigratedtoBritain whenshe
marriedPaul. Shehaspassedthroughthe UK immigrationprocess herself includingpassingthe
HomeOfficeImmigrationtest. AfteraperiodoftimeworkingasthePresentationsCoordinatorfora
majorBritishcompany,shenowworksasafreelancewebmasterandauthor.Inhersparetimeshe
enjoys aquafit andgardening.

Weappreciateyourquestionsorcomments. Youarewelcometocontacttheauthors.

Paul Lancaster andMaryAnn Coull

mail@lancasterandcoull.co.uk

43

44

MORETITLESFROMLANC ASTERANDCOULL

TheCompanionInteractiveMultipleChoiceTestSoftwareProgram
ToaccompanytheeBook"LifeintheUnitedKingdomTestCitizenshipStudy
Guide"wehavedevelopedaninteractivemultiplechoicequestionandanswer
program.Theinteractivemultiplechoicequestionandanswerprogrampresentsa
randomsetof24questionsfromourdatabaseofover400questionsforyouto
testyourknowledgeandbuildupyourconfidence.
Buynow

TheCompanionInteractiveMultipleChoiceTestSoftwareProgram
Theinteractivemultiplechoicequestionandanswerprogrampresentsarandomsetof24
questionsfromourdatabaseofover400questionsforyoutotestyourknowledgeand
buildupyourconfidence.
Buynow Availablefromwww.lancasterandcoull.co.uk

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46