Immigrants to the UK wishing to become British will take part in special language and citizenship classes from next year under major proposals being unveiled by the government.

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Citizenship classes for new Britons

The plans include a new pledge to the UK
Immigrants to the UK wishing to become British will take part in special language and citizenship classes from next year under major proposals being unveiled by the government.
The much-anticipated proposals, a year in the making, are expected to radically overhaul how people become British by emphasising the "life changing" nature of the step - but also the responsibilities of the new citizen to the country.

The system has been drawn up by a team of citizenship and nationality experts led by Professor Sir Bernard Crick, Home Secretary David Blunkett's former university tutor.

Plans to complete the citizenship process with celebratory local ceremonies at town halls are still being drafted.

Key requirements

Mr Blunkett put forward the citizenship proposals in 2002 as part of the Home Office's flagship nationality and immigration legislation.

He said that the process of becoming British was such a "significant life event" that it should be "meaningful and celebratory rather than simply a bureaucratic process".

The two key requirements of the scheme were that new citizens should have a "sufficient understanding of English, Welsh or Scots Gaelic" and a "sufficient understanding of UK society and civic structures".

Both elements, said the home secretary, should improve integration and a sense of belonging, rather than hinder the process of naturalisation.

Practical programme

In its interim report published earlier in the year, Sir Bernard's team said that the language classes and teaching of British life should support two senses of citizenship - the legal process of naturalisation and responsibilities towards the rest of society.

It recommended practical studies to progressively improve language skills for daily life.

It proposed potential citizens should not be expected to reach a single standard of English. Instead, they should be credited for their progress in improving their knowledge of the language depending on how much they knew before they arrived.

In its interim report, the group also said that integrating new citizens was being held up because they cannot get free language tuition for their first three years in the country.

Immigrants should be allowed to start language and citizenship study as soon as possible to accelerate their acceptance into society.

The group also recommended new citizens should formally learn about key elements of British life including:

Everyday needs such as gas and electricity companies

Education and the National Health Service

How British democracy works

Institutions from Parliament to local councils
The group also recommended a handbook for living in Britain, something which is expected to be a key part of the citizenship process.

Citizenship ceremonies

The third element, yet to be finalised, is proposals for special civic ceremonies welcoming those being naturalised.

The proposals currently out to public consultation suggest a ceremony for up to 50 new citizens at a time, headed by a local dignitary.

Each participant would take an oath of allegiance and a pledge summing up the values of British citizenship.

The Home Office says the ceremonies should emphasise the life-changing nature of the event and be family occasions involving friends, relatives and particularly children.

The consultation on the ceremonies continues until 17 October.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3202957.stm
The government is revealing its long-awaited citizenship test - but what do the UK's future citizens look like? .

― April Stevens, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Part of me can't fault the UK system wanting to keep its identity; you will soon get complaints from those new "citizens" asking why they need to learn a foreign tongue (to them) like Welsh: where will they use it, etc.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

But why should they have to learn english to get in? If you move to spain or italy they dont demand you speak spanish or italian. Its scandalous. Doesnt anyone think this is too right wing and racist?

― Tommy Mackay, Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Blunkett is a nazi with no eyes. Shoot his dog in the nuts next time he wants to cross a road.

― Calzer (Calzer), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 03:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Can a blind man be racist?

― Shirley, Wednesday, 3 September 2003 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't anyone think that a lot of people who were born and bred here would fail?

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 5 September 2003 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

They should just come in on fake work contracts for building sites like they did in my dad's generation.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 5 September 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I only got 4 out of 10 in the BBC's suggested quiz - I should be sent back to Galway or something...

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 5 September 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

'Celebratory local ceremonies'? If only this was a joke. If anyone believes 'being' British is a cause for celebration, more power to them...

― ChristineSH (chrissie1068), Friday, 5 September 2003 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Can a blind man be racist?

This is from a BNP website:

* * *
JUDGES IGNORE THE PEOPLE'S WISHES

Regular viewers of this site will probably be surprised when I say that I have some sympathy for Home Secretary David Blunket. This is in regard to the liberal judges' eagerness to overrule his long overdue attempts to curb the record flow of 'asylum' seekers into Britain.
The issue was the Government's new law to remove benefits from late applicants claiming asylum. As they have grudgingly admitted, this was in response to the BNP adding another Council seat scalp (Halifax) to its growing tally. Mr Justice Collins ruled in the High Court that the new law was a breach of the scroungers' - sorry, asylum seekers' human rights as it fell foul of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Top judge Wolfe has pursued the same legal line. No wonder Blunkett growled: "If public policy can always be overridden by individual challenge through the courts, then democracy itself is under threat".

― Coat Hanger (c_hanger), Friday, 5 September 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

OK. So I'm sitting my 'Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship' test on Saturday. Has anyone else had to take this yet? Is it ridiculously hard or kind of easy if you've studied?

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

christ almighty, such a thing exists?!

i think it's pretty ridiculous and it kind of makes me embarrassed to be britishes.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Thursday, 25 January 2007 11:59 (nineteen years ago)

you should learn Welsh, Marianna, just to impress them that little bit more.

― vita susicivus (blueski), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:09 (nineteen years ago)

Surely a test of Britishes is that you get embarassed by ANYTHING - nrg passes!

Good luck Marianna I am sure you will do 100% fine! Although I didn't even know these existed either...

― Bhumibol Adulyadej (Lucretia My Reflection), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

-- Nichole Graham (britbab...) (webmail), September 3rd, 2003 1:51 AM. (Nichole Graham) (link)

A lot of English "citizens" living in Wales complain that they have to learn Welsh anyway.

― Gareth Jones (jona), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:13 (nineteen years ago)

nichole "britbabe" graham

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

They tend to skew the questions depending on where you live, so learning Welsh would be a little redundant for me. But I have so many statistics to memorise!

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:15 (nineteen years ago)

like what?!

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:16 (nineteen years ago)

Somewhere along the line I was told speaking English didn't prove anything.

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

i think speaking english is probably a useful skill to have here, though am uneasy about testing for it -- you'd think people would want to pick it up anyway ~~SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR BENEFITS~~ so they can get jobs, buy food, and whatnot.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

It's weird, because I had to study all this stuff for the American government when I was thinking about getting American citizenship. All the knowledge of the government and legal system and things like that. I took the test in to work, and not one natural born American citizen got above 5 out of 10 questions right. I got 9, the other immigrant got 7.

With Marianna's British citizenship test, I'm sure I didn't know half of it, despite being a British Citizen from birth. Though some of the cultural questions were quite funny. It was almost like reading an ILX thread - "Explain me the Round System in Pubs" etc.

― The Whistling Bus (kate), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

je n'ai pas de voiture

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 25 January 2007 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

i've heard that it's pretty easy if you study the recommended chapters in the book (something like 2-5, i think?). it's multiple choice or true/false. apparently there are some questions that are tricky as in you have to be very good at english as a language to catch something.

sounds like the registration process often takes longer than the test itself. you'll know if you passed immediately, and DON'T lose the little paper they give you, as you'll need it for both ILR (starting in APril, at least) and naturalisation.

from another website, here's some questions and answers that have come up:

Q: In the 1970s, the majority of British immigrants arrived from what two areas?
Q: A married woman has always had the right to divorce her husband.
Q: The average pay rate for women is lower than the pay rate for men by what percentage?
Q: Most young people take their GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams at what age?
Q: At what age can people buy tobacco?
Q: Is cannabis legal or illegal in the UK?
Q: Britain has an ageing population.
Q: Ethnic minority groups make up approximately what percentage of the British population?
Q: What percentage of the population of Britain are Roman Catholic?
Q: On what day is it a common custom to hold a two-minute silence at 11:00am?
Q: Which Cabinet member is responsible for law and order?
Q: What authority does the King or Queen have relating to shaping government matters?
Q: MPs are required to belong to a political party.
Q: What is the goal of Pressure Groups?
Q: Who investigates serious complaints against the police?
Q: Britain has signed the European Convention on Human Rights.
Q: Citizens of the UK, the Irish Republic, or the Commonwealth may stand for public office beginning at what age?
Q: The only way to contact your MP is through their office in the House of Commons.

1) T/F Migration to Britain began in the 1950s.
2) Who is Head of State?
3) What is the day after Christmas called?
4) In what year did women receive voting rights at the same age as men?
5) In Britain, how many children are there under the age of 19?
6) What percentage of children live in a stepfamily?
7) Young people take the A levels at what age?
8 ) How many young people move onto higher education after school?
9) Which two of the following jobs are common for children to work in?
10) T/F Britain's population growth since 1951 is greater than the average growth for countries in the EU.
11) T/F The census is delivered to households throughout the country and, by law, must be completed
12) What percentage of the population reported they have a religion?
13) T/F The Queen has to abide by what Parliament decides.
14) T/F The majority of people in Britain live in cities/ suburbs.
15) T/F Britain signed the European Convention on Human Rights.
16) T/F The Opposition is guaranteed time in Parliament to debate mattered of its own choice.
17) T/F There is only 1 Parliament in the countries of the UK.
18 ) T/F In the 'First Past the Post' system, the candidate in a constituency who gains the largest number of votes is elected.
19) How may countries currently make up the EU?
20) What is the electoral register?
21) What deposit must a candidate pay if standing for office as an MP?
22) Who replaced Neville Chamberlain in 1940 as prime minister?
23) On what day is a 2 minute silence held at 11am?
24) What percentage of women with children are in paid work?

and more questions...

From what two areas did most migrants come from in the 1970s?
When did women first get the right to vote?
How many people under 19?
(T/F) Most women with school-age children do not work.
What proportion of young people move on to higher education after school?
How old do you have to be to buy tobacco?
(T/F) It is legal to smoke cannabis or use ecstasy in your own home.
(T/F) Most young people are involved in their communities.
(T/F) Ethnic minorities make up more than 10% of the population.
(T/F) Britain has an aging population.
(T/F) Everyone in Britain has the right to religious freedom.
(T/F) The monarch has the right to publicly state his/her political views.
(T/F) The monarch can only marry a Protestant.
Where do you hear a Geordie accent?
What is the day after Christmas called?
Who replaced Neville Chamberlain as PM in 1940?
What institution can make rules that the UK has to follow?
Who is the leader of the opposition?
(T/F) Britain has a free press.
(T/F) The monarch may only express opinions to the PM in private.
[Of the following] What topic can only the main UK parliament deal with? (Defense) note: No options so answer listed Smiley
In what month are local council elections held?
[Of the following] what must a candidate for Parliament do? (Pay a deposit) note: No options so answer listed Smiley
(T/F) Leading up to a general election, the main political parties must pay for broadcast time for party political broadcasts.

1) Which court system uses a jury?
2) About what percentage of the UK population lives in England?
3) What percentage of the UK pop is Catholic?
4) At what age do citizens get the right to vote?
5) At what age did women get the right to vote at the same age as men?
6) The purpose of the census is?
7) Where were bus crews recruited from in the 1950's?
8 ) The UK parliament has sole jurisdiction over decisions about…
9) (T/F) Everyone in Britain has the right to religious freedom
10) (T/F) A woman has always had the right to divorce her husband
11) (T/F) The Queen can publicly oppose Parliament
12) Which country in the UK has local authorities with the greatest amount of control over the services they deliver?
13) Who can ask questions of the Prime Minister at Question Time?
14) What is the electoral register?
15) At about what age do young people take GCSEs?
16) Who is the Speaker of the House?
17) Who is the Leader of the Opposition?
18 ) On what day is it customary to hold a two minute silence at 11am?
19) At what age can a person stand for election

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 25 January 2007 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

Holy fuck, chuck me out now! (not really, but Jesus, ask yer average punter in the street what percentage of the UK population is Catholic/lives in England/working mothers, and I bet you'd be faced with a stony-faced silence at best)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 25 January 2007 19:00 (nineteen years ago)

ok, i had a fairly good education (thanks mum, dad, and the taxpayers wot subsidized me): let's do this thing.

Q: In the 1970s, the majority of British immigrants arrived from what two areas? UGANDA/BANGLADESH [CAN I INCLUDE BANGLADESH AND PAKISTAN AS ONE ANSWER -- TECHNICALLY CORRECT [IIRC] UP TO... WHENEVER???]

Q: A married woman has always had the right to divorce her husband. NAW

Q: The average pay rate for women is lower than the pay rate for men by what percentage? SEARCH ME GUV

Q: Most young people take their GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams at what age? I WAS 15. OTHERS WERE 16.

Q: At what age can people buy tobacco? 16

Q: Is cannabis legal or illegal in the UK? ILLEGAL

Q: Britain has an ageing population. ERANU

Q: Ethnic minority groups make up approximately what percentage of the British population? 12%??

Q: What percentage of the population of Britain are Roman Catholic? NO IDEA

Q: On what day is it a common custom to hold a two-minute silence at 11:00am? 11/11 NEVER FORGET EAGLE ;_;

Q: Which Cabinet member is responsible for law and order? lol JOHN REID

Q: What authority does the King or Queen have relating to shaping government matters? WHAT THE FUCK DOES 'GOVERNMENT MATTERS' MEAN?

Q: MPs are required to belong to a political party. NO

Q: What is the goal of Pressure Groups? EXERTING PRESSURE

Q: Who investigates serious complaints against the police? SOME FUCKEN QUANGO

Q: Britain has signed the European Convention on Human Rights. YEAH

Q: Citizens of the UK, the Irish Republic, or the Commonwealth may stand for public office beginning at what age? DUNNO

Q: The only way to contact your MP is through their office in the House of Commons. NO. I EMAILED MINE. SHE PROBABLY HAS A BLOG EVEN.

1) T/F Migration to Britain began in the 1950s. NO, BUT KIND OF.

2) Who is Head of State? ... THE QUEEN?

3) What is the day after Christmas called? BOXING DAY

4) In what year did women receive voting rights at the same age as men? TRICK QUESTION. I CAN'T FUCKING REMEMBER BUT MEN HAD THE VOTE BASED ON A PROPERTY FRANCHISE, NOT AN AGE FRANCHISE, FOR MOST OF THIS NATION'S HISTORY, JACKASS.

5) In Britain, how many children are there under the age of 19? WAHT

6) What percentage of children live in a stepfamily? NO CLUE

7) Young people take the A levels at what age? I WAS 17. SHIT BUT THEY HAVE TWO TYPES OF A-LEVEL NOW, A1 AND A2. SO ANY AGE BETWEEN 16-18.

8 ) How many young people move onto higher education after school? MILLIONS, LITERALLY

9) Which two of the following jobs are common for children to work in? -

10) T/F Britain's population growth since 1951 is greater than the average growth for countries in the EU. T?

11) T/F The census is delivered to households throughout the country and, by law, must be completed ERM, T?

12) What percentage of the population reported they have a religion? WAY MORE THAN ACTUALLY HAVE A RELIGION

13) T/F The Queen has to abide by what Parliament decides. BASICALLY T? DEFINE 'HAS TO'.

14) T/F The majority of people in Britain live in cities/ suburbs. T

15) T/F Britain signed the European Convention on Human Rights. T

16) T/F The Opposition is guaranteed time in Parliament to debate mattered of its own choice. T?

17) T/F There is only 1 Parliament in the countries of the UK. F

18 ) T/F In the 'First Past the Post' system, the candidate in a constituency who gains the largest number of votes is elected. CLEARLY IT IS THE FIRST TO GET PAST THE POST WHO WINS.

19) How may countries currently make up the EU? DUNNO

20) What is the electoral register? LIST OF VOTERS?

21) What deposit must a candidate pay if standing for office as an MP? £500?

22) Who replaced Neville Chamberlain in 1940 as prime minister? WINSTON CHURCHILL

23) On what day is a 2 minute silence held at 11am? DONE THIS

24) What percentage of women with children are in paid work? DUNNO

and more questions...

From what two areas did most migrants come from in the 1970s? DONE THIS
When did women first get the right to vote? ERM, NO SINGLE YEAR, AGE LIMIT WAS LOWERED PROGRESSIVELY
How many people under 19? WHAT AM I A STATISTICIAN?
(T/F) Most women with school-age children do not work. F
What proportion of young people move on to higher education after school? 70%?
How old do you have to be to buy tobacco? 16
(T/F) It is legal to smoke cannabis or use ecstasy in your own home. F
(T/F) Most young people are involved in their communities. WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?
(T/F) Ethnic minorities make up more than 10% of the population. MAYBE JUST OVER THAT? IS POLISH 'ETHNIC' NOW?
(T/F) Britain has an aging population. T
(T/F) Everyone in Britain has the right to religious freedom. NO, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS LOL (T/F) The monarch has the right to publicly state his/her political views. INTERESTING QUESTION.
(T/F) The monarch can only marry a Protestant. COE
Where do you hear a Geordie accent? FROM MOUTH OF GEORDIE PERSON.
What is the day after Christmas called? BOXING DAY
Who replaced Neville Chamberlain as PM in 1940? WINSTON CHURCHILL
What institution can make rules that the UK has to follow? WHITE HOUSE!!!!11!!1!
Who is the leader of the opposition? DAVID CAMERON
(T/F) Britain has a free press. F
(T/F) The monarch may only express opinions to the PM in private. FUCK SHOULD I KNOW
(T/F) Leading up to a general election, the main political parties must pay for broadcast time for party political broadcasts. F

1) Which court system uses a jury? MOST
2) About what percentage of the UK population lives in England? 80%?
3) What percentage of the UK pop is Catholic? NO IDEA
4) At what age do citizens get the right to vote? 18
5) At what age did women get the right to vote at the same age as men? DONE THIS
6) The purpose of the census is? KEYNSIAN CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME
7) Where were bus crews recruited from in the 1950's? WEST INDIES ETC
8 ) The UK parliament has sole jurisdiction over decisions about… NOTHING
9) (T/F) Everyone in Britain has the right to religious freedom F
10) (T/F) A woman has always had the right to divorce her husband F
11) (T/F) The Queen can publicly oppose Parliament PROBABLY F RLY
12) Which country in the UK has local authorities with the greatest amount of control over the services they deliver? SCOTLAND?
13) Who can ask questions of the Prime Minister at Question Time? ANY1
14) What is the electoral register? SONE
15) At about what age do young people take GCSEs? 15-16
16) Who is the Speaker of the House? WHATEVER
17) Who is the Leader of the Opposition? DAVID CAMERON
18 ) On what day is it customary to hold a two minute silence at 11am? DONE

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 09:27 (nineteen years ago)

I assume with the percentage questions they're just looking for a fairly accurate guess, like they're hoping you don't say that Britain is 95% Catholic, or something like that, because it would prove that you are NOT INTEGRATED and don't know things. But what year did women get the vote? What does that tell you? Is it a trick question to which the only wrong answer is "never, if I have my way".

At a guess I'd say 15% of the population is Catholic.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 26 January 2007 09:43 (nineteen years ago)

srsly with the women's vote and the men's vote q, it is literally unanswerable. men and women got the vote in stages and based on property.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

Really? I thought women got the vote in 1922.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 26 January 2007 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

Ah, I have looked at the Wikipedia page, and see what you mean now. Where the hell did I get 1922 from? Something else must have happened then...

According to Wikipedia, there are an estimated 5 million baptized Roman Catholics in Britain.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 26 January 2007 09:52 (nineteen years ago)

bloody hell, i would never pass this. weren't they going to include questions on eastenders or, i dunno, football or big brother or some shit?

(Defense)

do you get kicked out if you spell it like that?

― emsk ( emsk), Friday, 26 January 2007 10:11 (nineteen years ago)

If not, you should be

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 10:39 (nineteen years ago)

I don't really see the point of this. Anyone with a minimum amount of savvy will crib all the answers from Wikipedia &c.

Oh yes...to keep more useless civil servants and "consultants" on the public payroll, silly me...

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 26 January 2007 11:00 (nineteen years ago)

What is the book that it is all in?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 26 January 2007 11:08 (nineteen years ago)

But the answers from Wikipedia aren't necessarily correct. That is, they may have updated percentage's, population figures, whereas those in the book and in the test are based on the 2001 census.

Thanks for the practice questions, Colette! Based on those I'm going to ace the test! WOO!

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Friday, 26 January 2007 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

So to get in we have to answer questions whose answers are strictly speaking OUT OF DATE and therefore WRONG?

Are New New Labour serious about the EDUCATION CRISIS or are they just THICK PLANKTONS?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:40 (nineteen years ago)

They are serious about the education crisis facing Ruth Kelly's children

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

This is what happens when you put Guardian journalists in positions of power.

Perhaps they'll get Zoe Williams to compile a revised questionnaire. Swot up on your Sophie Kinsella now!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

Sick up on your Sophie Kinsella, more like.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

> On what day is it a common custom to hold a two-minute silence at 11:00am? 11/11 NEVER FORGET EAGLE ;_;

it's not (always) the 11th is it, but the nearest sunday following, remembrance sunday.

― Koogy Bloogies (koogs), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

nah it's the 11th. i was in a library for it this year. that was odd.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

In libraries do you have a minute's noise instead?

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

nah it's the Sunday after the 11th in the UK. Has been like that since 1939.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

When did it become a two-minute silence? Or has it always been? There's a question for you

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

well, ok, it's clearly just in all the offices i've worked in and the british library then.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

Full of unintegrated infidels! Out with them!

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

i have set wiki straight anyhoo.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

No, Rememberance Sunday is the first Sunday after 11/11, but the silence is always held on 11/11 itself.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

officially it's the sunday after the eleventh, but people tend to do an unofficial one on the eleventh as well cos it feels more 'correct' innit.

― ampersand, spades, semicolon (cis), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

I always do it on the 11th of the 11th of the 11th cos it makes me feel more down with my homies on The Somme.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 26 January 2007 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

sunday morning at 11am? of course i'm silent.

COS I'M LIKE HUNGOVER AND SHIT

― student comedian (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:00 (nineteen years ago)

Our school always used to hold a special assembly on 11/11 where they'd drop poppies from the ceiling during the (hotly debated as to whether its official or unofficial) silence.

What a fucking waste.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

... so what do those poor immigrants have to answer to be allowed in? "trick question!"

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

11am on a weekday was during the morning break at school, so it was always a bit difficult for teachers to organise.

It's not a trick question! The silence is observed during the cenotaph ceremony what is televised and on the radio: this happens on remembrance sunday.

― ampersand, spades, semicolon (cis), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:07 (nineteen years ago)

Suggested alternative question: describe in no more than 200 words the radical changes in British politics caused by Michael Foot's choice of jacket at the 1982 Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:08 (nineteen years ago)

Surely these questions should all revolve around plumbing?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

It's not a trick question! The silence is observed during the cenotaph ceremony what is televised and on the radio: this happens on remembrance sunday.

-- ampersand, spades, semicolon (cispontin...), January 26th, 2007.

no, question says 'common custom', not state-sanctioned one.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

i have never done the silence on a sunday, and i'm as common as they come.

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

I don't do silences period

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

OUT!

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently immigrants are the only people left in Britain who want to be thought of as British

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

No, Rememberance Sunday is the first Sunday after 11/11, but the silence is always held on 11/11 itself.

On day itself is unofficial but has been heavily promoted by the British Legion in recent years.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

The leader of the opposition here has said that immigrants must integrate into the celtic and christian culture of Irish society. I hope this does not mean that long-term Irish citizens must also so integrate.

― The Real Dirty Vicar (dirtyvicar), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

Celtic? Ha ha, what a laugh.

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

Integration = participating in the society, knowing the language, working for a living. All the rest is BS.

I mean, come on, I don't know lots of those things about my own country either (number of catholics in Belgium? "way too many"), I hardly ever see my neighbours (big city alienation and so on), which would make me "not integrated" if I were foreign. ???

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

MORRIS: Alan, you're a keen fan of the law, aren't you?

PARTRIDGE: I certainly am, I support the law fully. Not too keen on those that break it, though.

MORRIS: How do you support it, then?

PARTRIDGE: Just generally... support it.

MORRIS: What, just generally turn up on a Saturday afternoon and wave at it from the touchline?

― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:27 (nineteen years ago)

They should ask immigrants to impersonate three Little Britain characters to prove they're sufficiently British.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

"Are you here only to profit from our fabulous NHS waiting list system?"
"да."

Sorry, you're out.

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

They come over here, taking our hospital beds

― Tom D. (Dada), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

"Can you explain offside in less than 100 words?"
"Yes"

OK, you're in!

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

NAME ALL THE LISBON LIONS YA BASS

Ye're in, pal!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

maybe someone's addressed this upthread, but, w/r/t the whole "i don't even know the answers to these questions!!!" handwaving:

it's the same here, but i know that i was at some point expected to know the answers to a lot of the questions on the exam. like, in high school, when i was taking american history and civics and shit. so, it's not just that average joe doesn't know arcane facts about the country omg, it's more that they forgot them/never bothered absorbing them in the first place/dropped out of school/whatever.

― mothers against celibacy (skowly), Friday, 26 January 2007 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

in the uk we are never taught this stuff. or at least we weren't. perhaps the new citizenship lessons they have address these points (which sound like the dullest lessons ever)

> When did it become a two-minute silence? Or has it always been? There's a question for you

wikipedia:
...The two minutes recall World War I and World War II. Before 1945 the silence was for one minute...

(which i've pointed out before. please pay attention.)

it also says '2nd sunday in november' which could possibly be *before* the 11th...

― Koogy Bloogies (koogs), Friday, 26 January 2007 15:04 (nineteen years ago)

Woo hoo! I finished it in 5 minutes (you're given 45mins) and got all the questions right! YAY ME! Dual citizenship, here I come!!

― marianna lcl (marianna lcl), Saturday, 27 January 2007 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

I'm still amazed anyone would want to be British

― Tom D. (Dada), Saturday, 27 January 2007 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

congrats, marianna! that's so awesome, i'm really looking forward to this spring when i get to start applying for that kind of stuff...

oh, and for whoever asked, all the questions and answers are available from 'life in the UK: a journey to citizenship', written by the home office and available on amazon.

― colette (a2lette), Saturday, 27 January 2007 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

I'm still amazed anyone would want to be British

I'm still amazing anyone would want to be American.

― i'll mitya halfway (mitya), Saturday, 27 January 2007 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

three months pass...

Woo hoo! My application has been approved and I shall be affirming allegience to the Queen on June the 11th! Dual citizenship is MINE!

― marianna lcl, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 09:22 (nineteen years ago)

Hurrah - well done. Can we have a party to celebrate your hard-won Britishness? I think we should.

― Anna, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 11:23 (nineteen years ago)

Beefeater costumes essential.

― blueski, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 11:24 (nineteen years ago)

Swearing allegiance to the Queen is great! My mum had to do that when she was naturalised. Congratulations!

(n.b. she will not be there. The Queen, that is.)

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

Well done you! Did you have any tricky questions after all that?

I think the Queen SHOULD be there. Surely they can record Deal or not Deal for her?

― The Wayward Johnny B, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 11:42 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe she doesn't have that extra ounce of courage to attend.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 11:55 (nineteen years ago)

Thanks! I'm so pleased. Now I can go on the dole! (note to Home Office: kidding!)

And yes, I think a celebratory Aussie/British themed party is in order.

― marianna lcl, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

congrats! that's so exciting for you!

how long did they have your application? they've had mine for about 5 weeks and i haven't had a confirmation letter or anything yet...

― colette, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 13:40 (nineteen years ago)

Hmm. I'd be a bit concerned about not having received a confirmation letter by now. Have they taken the fee out of your account yet?

I sent my application off in early March and received a confirmation letter about three weeks later, so it took just over two months in total. That said, they still haven't returned my Australian passport yet and I kind of need it to go to Sonar next month.

― marianna lcl, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

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