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VOTE BAN OUTRAGE
By Fiona Audley
The Irish could lose the right to vote in Britain if proposals outlined
in a new report are approved.
The Goldsmith Report, published by former Attorney General Lord Peter
Goldsmith, promises to provide a citizenship plan for the nation.
And the 135-page account of policy changes, which he feels are necessary
to promote Britishness, also includes a questionable clause that asked
Ministers to consider withdrawing the right to vote in English elections
for Commonwealth and Irish citizens.
But these proposals have been slammed as a ‘hideous perversion of
community cohesion’ by outraged community leaders.
Director of the Agreed Ireland Forum Martin Collins has spoken out against
the plan — which is hotly tipped to be refused by English Prime
Minister Gordon Brown later this year.
He said: “This plan is a hideous perversion of the national discussion
about community cohesion and threatens to plunge Britain back to a new
ice-age for the development of a human rights culture.”
Mr Collins’ sentiments were echoed by former MP Kevin McNamara,
who is soon to announce a series of events being held to commemorate the
founding of the Civil Rights Movement in 1968.
He claimed to be ‘shocked’ at the plans and said: “This
move would undermine the human rights protection of all minorities and
set back community relations with the Irish in Britain by 30 years.”
Community group are now seeking to meet with Prime Minster Gordon Brown
to insure that the rights of the Irish in Britain are safeguarded.
Mr Collins said: “Despite the major implications for the Irish community
in Britain, the review document that was handed in to Downing Street was
drawn up without any consultation with community organisation or the Irish
Government.
“We will be working with our community groups in seeking an urgent
meeting to call on the Prime Minister to assure us that he will continue
to protect the long-standing rights of the Irish in Britain.”
Former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Lord
Dubs also criticised the proposals over Irish passport holders.
He said: “I am very angry about this and believe it is wrong.
“I hope this part of the report will be rejected by Ministers.”
Other proposals in Lord Goldsmith’s report included a new National
Day being established by 2012 and made into a public holiday.
Fees paid to become a British citizen would also be lowered from the current
£655 under the proposals, while the current ban on asylum seekers
taking paid jobs in this country would also be reviewed.
A new branding of ‘associate citizen’ could also be created,
for those foreigners who cannot become a British citizen because their
home nations do not allow dual citizenship.
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