UK NEWS: Record numbers given UK citizenship (From South Wales Argus)

Finance advice

Get live answers from Alvin Hall Find out more »

Your Gwent

Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting ARGUS NEWS to 80360 or email »

News RSS Feed

UK NEWS: Record numbers given UK citizenship

2:29am Wednesday 21st May 2008

comment Comments (23) Have your say »

By South Wales Argus Newsdesk »

The number of people granted British citizenship reached record levels last year, new figures show.

Play Video

Government data revealed 164,635 foreign nationals became British, up 7% on the previous 12 months.

The number outstripped the previous record of 161,700 set in 2005, when there was a rush to beat the new tests on Britishness and the ability to speak English.

Separate figures showed there was a 16% rise in asylum applications in the first three months of this year, to 6,595, compared with the same period in 2007.

A mass of statistical documents issued by the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics also showed a 13% fall in the number of failed asylum seekers deported from January to March, to 2,805.

The total number of people removed from the country - including other categories of people such as foreign criminals - was up 12% to 16,760, the figures showed.

Britain also received the largest number of asylum applications in Europe in the first three months of this year - 7,700 including dependants, 300 more than France which was the second most popular destination.

Foreign workers now make up 12.5% of the workforce - 3.7 million people were born outside the UK compared with 1.9 million in 1997; In the citizenship figures, 31% of those becoming British had previously held African nationality and Asians accounted for 22%.

Nationalities with the largest numbers of grants were Indian with 14,490, Filipino (10,840), Afghan (10,555), South African (8,150) and Pakistani (8,140). Afghans were the fastest-growing group with a 211% rise on the previous year.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourGwent

donna, newport says...
7:09am Wed 21 May 08

Thats good news for some them, lets just hope that a friend of mine who has 3 young children gets what she wants and gets given citizenship, she has already had one application turned down she was then told she had to wait for the immigration to come and take her and her children she waited 4 months on her nerves, when they did come and took her they tried to put her on a plane straight away which she refused, she was returned home in newport and given a 2nd appeal which we are all hoping she gets, she is a lovely women who cares for her childrens saftey, if they send her back to nigera they would not be safe, fingers crossed for her her appeal which they said would take between 2/12 months why would it take so long, she is better off here than in a war zone that could go off any minute x

Report this post »

donna, newport says...
7:10am Wed 21 May 08

Report this post »

Gwenty, bed says...
7:40am Wed 21 May 08

donna wrote:
Thats good news for some them, lets just hope that a friend of mine who has 3 young children gets what she wants and gets given citizenship, she has already had one application turned down she was then told she had to wait for the immigration to come and take her and her children she waited 4 months on her nerves, when they did come and took her they tried to put her on a plane straight away which she refused, she was returned home in newport and given a 2nd appeal which we are all hoping she gets, she is a lovely women who cares for her childrens saftey, if they send her back to nigera they would not be safe, fingers crossed for her her appeal which they said would take between 2/12 months why would it take so long, she is better off here than in a war zone that could go off any minute x

Donna we are an island. we cant take anymore people.I'm not a BNP fan but if you read there manifesto some of it makes sense. And if this p1ss poor government doesn't sort it out . as Enoch said there will be rivers of blood.

Report this post »

Mervyn James, says...
8:49am Wed 21 May 08

We are not coping now,it's a realissue, and the recent decision to open up the NHS to FAILED and illegal asylum seekers seems absolute madness, Wales is going tobecome a Mecca for those outside to come here for free treatment as well,while it is in decline now. Illegals are coming here with TB and all sorts, that is the reason given for allowing them free access to the NHS. We can welcome those able top contribute, LEGALLY,and withing the quota at which this country is able to cope, it's a free-for-all, and we are struggling, in the end, so will the immigrant. We are told to have a pro[per debate on allthis, but are called racists when we do, the issue is they are allstiflingthe debate,because they don't want us to know (We do already !), they have lost the plot. At some point the doors are going to be shut to more immigrants regardless of status and forceable removal too.

Report this post »

LJ, newport says...
9:50am Wed 21 May 08

Donna I sympathise with your friend, but Nigeria is a 3rd world country there is no war going on in Nigeria, only Niger Delta. Everyone in the world wants to come to Britain, because we are a rich nation. But we cant take everyone, since we joined the european we have been inundated with foriegn nationals, when is it going to end. I have to agree with mervyn on this one. Instead of bringing everyone over here, they should consider investing money in poorer nations and helping them to build a thriving economy like us Brits are lucky to have.

Report this post »

LJ, newport says...
11:06am Wed 21 May 08

I believe since Britain joined the european, we have been inundated with foriegn nationals. Us Brits pride ourselves with picking ourselves up from the bottom and making this country the 1 it is today. Mine and your ancestors worked and struggled to make this country the place it is today. If countrys weren't so corrupt they too might be happy to stay put in there homeland. Our pot only has so much innit. We aint got enough in it to save the world, otherwise we would. 1 day our pot of gold will be empty, where will all the asylum seekers go then.?

Report this post »

donna, newport says...
11:12am Wed 21 May 08

LJ wrote:
Donna I sympathise with your friend, but Nigeria is a 3rd world country there is no war going on in Nigeria, only Niger Delta. Everyone in the world wants to come to Britain, because we are a rich nation. But we cant take everyone, since we joined the european we have been inundated with foriegn nationals, when is it going to end. I have to agree with mervyn on this one. Instead of bringing everyone over here, they should consider investing money in poorer nations and helping them to build a thriving economy like us Brits are lucky to have.

They maybe not at war but if this lady was to return her to nigeria her family would be in danger of there lives thats the reason she had to leave there in the first place, her husband was killed over a plot of land, i cant tell you what they did to her and her son who was only 4 years of age at the time, this lady needs to be here to ensure her children dont come to any more harm they have witnessed things some people can only see on the tv

Report this post »

LJ, newport says...
11:35am Wed 21 May 08

I do understand Donna, I too have Nigerian friends over here, who themselves have had to flee Nigeria because of violence. They are studying for there degrees, because they intend to better themselves and return home, ok there are extreme cases where peeps cannot go back to there homeland. In extreme cases the government should allow stay for those whose lives are at threat, aslong as they are prepared to pay taxes and put into the pot what they take out.What do you think?

Report this post »

donna, newport says...
11:57am Wed 21 May 08

LJ wrote:
I do understand Donna, I too have Nigerian friends over here, who themselves have had to flee Nigeria because of violence. They are studying for there degrees, because they intend to better themselves and return home, ok there are extreme cases where peeps cannot go back to there homeland. In extreme cases the government should allow stay for those whose lives are at threat, aslong as they are prepared to pay taxes and put into the pot what they take out.What do you think?

She is more than willing to pay her taxes and pay her way in this country she also goes to college to try and make a difference on her education to pass it down to her children so they can have a better life.

Report this post »

donna, newport says...
11:58am Wed 21 May 08

LJ wrote:
I do understand Donna, I too have Nigerian friends over here, who themselves have had to flee Nigeria because of violence. They are studying for there degrees, because they intend to better themselves and return home, ok there are extreme cases where peeps cannot go back to there homeland. In extreme cases the government should allow stay for those whose lives are at threat, aslong as they are prepared to pay taxes and put into the pot what they take out.What do you think?

yes i no shes more than willing to pay her way if she was given the chance.

Report this post »

seren_night, newport says...
1:00pm Wed 21 May 08

Gwenty wrote:

donna wrote: Thats good news for some them, lets just hope that a friend of mine who has 3 young children gets what she wants and gets given citizenship, she has already had one application turned down she was then told she had to wait for the immigration to come and take her and her children she waited 4 months on her nerves, when they did come and took her they tried to put her on a plane straight away which she refused, she was returned home in newport and given a 2nd appeal which we are all hoping she gets, she is a lovely women who cares for her childrens saftey, if they send her back to nigera they would not be safe, fingers crossed for her her appeal which they said would take between 2/12 months why would it take so long, she is better off here than in a war zone that could go off any minute x
Donna we are an island. we cant take anymore people.I'm not a BNP fan but if you read there manifesto some of it makes sense. And if this p1ss poor government doesn't sort it out . as Enoch said there will be rivers of blood.

racist

Report this post »

seren_night, newport says...
1:03pm Wed 21 May 08

donna donna please don't waste your breath on people who refuse to get their head from out of their old, bigoted and over the top arrse's. they are not worth the typing! i hope your friend DOES get her indefinite, and i hope that she will be happy here one day soon! take care Serena x.x.x.x.x

Report this post »

donna, newport says...
1:52pm Wed 21 May 08

seren_night wrote:
donna donna please don't waste your breath on people who refuse to get their head from out of their old, bigoted and over the top arrse's. they are not worth the typing! i hope your friend DOES get her indefinite, and i hope that she will be happy here one day soon! take care Serena x.x.x.x.x

thank you for those kind words, lets hope so x

Report this post »

kaney333, blackwood says...
3:51pm Wed 21 May 08

dont think it is as easy as they are makin it out to be i'm one in three children and they keep refusin my step fathers visa and we are really missing him now but after 9 months they have said yes but it's still gong to take another 2 or 3 months

Report this post »

fireman, cwmbran says...
4:12pm Wed 21 May 08

Increase of 1.6 million immigrants since 1997 and 2 million have left in the same period.

Shouldn't this sound alarm bells somewhere?

especially as the emigrants are skilled workers whereas most of the immigrants are not

Report this post »

fireman, cwmbran says...
4:12pm Wed 21 May 08

Report this post »

Lyndon, Caerdydd says...
6:12pm Wed 21 May 08

If people want to become citizens and contribute to the country what is the problem? The only possible objection is a racist one. As for the "Wales is full" argument...get real.

Report this post »

John, says...
8:34am Thu 22 May 08

seren_night wrote:

Gwenty wrote:
donna wrote: Thats good news for some them, lets just hope that a friend of mine who has 3 young children gets what she wants and gets given citizenship, she has already had one application turned down she was then told she had to wait for the immigration to come and take her and her children she waited 4 months on her nerves, when they did come and took her they tried to put her on a plane straight away which she refused, she was returned home in newport and given a 2nd appeal which we are all hoping she gets, she is a lovely women who cares for her childrens saftey, if they send her back to nigera they would not be safe, fingers crossed for her her appeal which they said would take between 2/12 months why would it take so long, she is better off here than in a war zone that could go off any minute x
Donna we are an island. we cant take anymore people.I'm not a BNP fan but if you read there manifesto some of it makes sense. And if this p1ss poor government doesn't sort it out . as Enoch said there will be rivers of blood.
racist

REALIST

Report this post »

John, says...
8:36am Thu 22 May 08

seren_night wrote:

Gwenty wrote:
donna wrote: Thats good news for some them, lets just hope that a friend of mine who has 3 young children gets what she wants and gets given citizenship, she has already had one application turned down she was then told she had to wait for the immigration to come and take her and her children she waited 4 months on her nerves, when they did come and took her they tried to put her on a plane straight away which she refused, she was returned home in newport and given a 2nd appeal which we are all hoping she gets, she is a lovely women who cares for her childrens saftey, if they send her back to nigera they would not be safe, fingers crossed for her her appeal which they said would take between 2/12 months why would it take so long, she is better off here than in a war zone that could go off any minute x
Donna we are an island. we cant take anymore people.I'm not a BNP fan but if you read there manifesto some of it makes sense. And if this p1ss poor government doesn't sort it out . as Enoch said there will be rivers of blood.
racist

REALIST

Report this post »

Gemski, Cwmbran says...
2:07pm Thu 22 May 08

Good on them, I work in Recruitment they have made a difference to our work force and the way we all now live our lives....
Slowly but surely more and more people are returning home or moving on from the UK ... and when they do - Then we have a crisis on our hands!!!
If they speak English, their willing to work and support themselves I personally think we should be welcoming them.

Report this post »

Welshman, Wales says...
3:10pm Thu 22 May 08

Mine and your ancestors worked and struggled to make this country the place it is today.

And your ancestors came from where? We are a nation of immigrants, always have been, always will be, whether that be from Scandinavia, Germany, the West Indies, Africa etc etc

Donna we are an island. we cant take anymore people.

Increase of 1.6 million immigrants since 1997 and 2 million have left in the same period.

Err... so we can take more people then as by my reckoning that makes 400,000 fewer people in the country since 97!

Report this post »

cld, valleys says...
5:44pm Thu 22 May 08

I don't want to see anyone who is in danger of losing their life deported. I think everyone would agree with that statement. If someone wants to better their lives by coming here using the correct procedures then good for them. Where the problem lies is when people abuse the system and say that their life is in danger when it is not - this is causing the distrust of the very people the UK wants to help.

The other problem is that the government has not given enough money to the public services to cope with additional citizens. This again causes public unease. It is not racist to have these concerns.

Report this post »

Mervyn James, says...
11:16am Sat 24 May 08

There is a difference between 'asylum seekers' and migrants. In reality those seeking genuine refuge from oppression or death, are pushed out by the flood of illegals and other migrants, trying on the same argument. Illegals when they are caught claim this and are allowed to stay,it's a joke, they should be put on the next plane out. When migrants have asset stripped Britain they will all move on to the next country....

Report this post »

Your sayYourGwent

comment Add your comment

Register for a FREE South Wales Argus account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

Please register now or sign in below to continue.