Karen Williams

A white British person, cannot be stripped of their citizenship on national security or public-good grounds. Yet a British-born citizen from an ethnic minority background, can be. Two people, both born here, both British from birth, but afforded different levels of protection under the law. A two-tier system of citizenship. A Labour Government introduced these changes in 2002. Surely this is what we should be discussing: the unequal security of British citizenship. Instead, we get another debate about who can call themselves English and how national identity should be redefined. Frankly, this looks like a political gimmick to further stir the culture war. It offers symbolic recognition to ethnic minorities while antagonising white British people who feel their ethnic identity is being overlooked. It sets one group against another while leaving the real inequality untouched. There is nothing wrong with people of different backgrounds identifying as English if they so wish. But what is the point of changing the consensus on Englishness when the law itself holds tiers of citizenship, security and belonging. Anyone serious about equality and belonging, should be calling for a change to the law that allows for this tiered belonging. A Labour Government introduced these inequalities. Perhaps a Labour Government should have the courage to address them. We need less vibes, and more concrete change. Make British citizenship equal for all.