Theresa May 'planning changes to immigrant test'

Home Secretary Theresa May is reported to be planning changes to the test taken by foreign nationals who wish to become British citizens.

The Life in the United Kingdom test was introduced by Labour in 2005.

The Sunday Times says immigrants will be told "historically the UK is a Christian country".

The revised version will focus less on the practicalities of daily living in Britain and require more knowledge of British history and achievements, inventions and discoveries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18662531

-- BBC 2012-07-01

this women is one pain in the ass

A test on the practicalities of living in the UK I can support but including a test on history and the fact that Britain is largely a Christian country is bordering on the xenophobic.

I think May is more than a pain in the butt, she is bordering on the dangerous.

To be fair to the woman, from what it says on the BBC* it appears that the Sunday Times article is mainly conjecture and rumour. We've seen these sort of rumours in the papers before, and they've come to nothing.

Personally, I'll wait for something more concrete.

*Can't enter the Sunday Times site without setting up an account.

To be fair to her she is a beleaguered politician with the impossible task of cutting immigration significantly.

I fear the article is the classic first stage in preparing us all for further change.

What is tiresome is that her proposals won’t achieve the significant overall reductions that were her objectives, but of course her rhetoric won’t acknowledge that, and so she keeps her job. Her gain is our loss.

Fortunately she has thoughtfully given our spouses an increase to five years in which to prepare for the presumably more demanding tests.

Immigrants need to be able to demonstrate that they are happy to be admitted into the UK and fit into society, not expect society to fit in with them.

They should know some general knowledge of the UK and general history, but not in great depth.

Questions like where do Arsenal play their home games and where does the Queen live in London are perfectly acceptable as are who was Nelson and Churchill.