What is Badenoch’s new plan for British citizenship?

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, has declared that a British passport is a privilege, not a right and that immigrants should only be able to apply to become British citizens after living in the UK for a minimum of 15 years (rather than the current six).

- SEAN O'GRADY

In addition, applicants should be free of criminal convictions, have never lived in social housing, nor claimed benefits. Some wonder how important or sensible any of this is...

Is it practical?

Possibly, but the details could be troublesome, especially the strictures about social security. Many average-waged working families, for example, receive “in work” benefits, which would, presumably, disqualify them from being “British”. Similarly, a good candidate for citizenship on Badenoch’s other terms would be ruled out if they had endured a short time on jobseeker’s allowance or had a youthful conviction for a foolish minor offence.

There’s also the philosophical problem that a huge number of Britain’s current citizenry have either lived in social housing, had a criminal conviction, or claimed a benefit – or all three. Shall we deport them? And why is living in a council flat equivalent to a sentence for murder?