WHO was William Shakespeare? Who are the Beatles? If you don’t know the answers, you may not get British citizenship. From the poetry of Shakespeare to the athletic prowess of Jessica Ennis, immigrants who wish to settle in the UK will now have to learn key facts about British history to pass their citizenship test.
The Life in the United Kingdom test, introduced under the previous Labour government, has been re-designed to make historical and cultural facts about the country an essential requirement. A new handbook issued for applicants preparing for such tests, Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for New Residents, was published on Monday (January 28) to focus on the “events and people who have contributed to making Britain great”.
The new edition, issued by the Conservative-led coalition, highlights the achievements of former Tory prime ministers such as Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. While the previous version described
Thatcher as a “divisive figure’ whose policies caused “a massive decline in industry”, the rewrite sees the former PM praised as an economic reformer. From March this year, applicants for British citizenship will be expected to answer 75 per cent of the 24 questions in the 45-minute test correctly, based on material in the new guide.
“The new book rightly focuses on values and principles at the heart of being British. Instead of telling people how to claim benefits, it encourages participation in British life,” said immigration minister Mark Harper.
