Labour's 'Progress' on Citizenship: Still Conditional, Just Nicer Language
The New Arab details how Labour, despite its 'progressive' facade, continues policies that brand citizenship for minorities as revocable at will, echoing the 'hostile environment' perfected by their Tory predecessors. From citizenship stripping to the implications of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (which Labour failed to significantly challenge during passage, mind you), the message is
clear: for some, the 'British' in British citizen comes with an asterisk. Remember Shamima Begum? Her British citizenship was revoked in 2019 by then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid, a move upheld by courts, demonstrating the terrifying precedent for conditional belonging. Keir Starmer has indicated no intention to reverse such policies, preferring instead to posture on 'tough boundaries' for
immigration and national security—conveniently aligning with the very rhetoric that created this tiered citizenship. So, under a prospective Labour government, the goal posts for minorities simply get a fresh coat of paint. The fundamental power dynamic—that the state can unilaterally declare you 'un-British'—remains firmly in place. One might wonder, how many generations does it take to truly
belong when your passport carries a silent expiration clause?