The Government's 'Life in the UK' citizenship test is still "like a bad pub quiz" with incorrect facts, unexplained omissions, mundane trivia and inadequate checks, a report launched today at Durham University has found.
The report's author, Professor Thom Brooks, claims the test faces serious problems that require the creation of an advisory group to lead a public consultation and draft a new edition. It has been two decades since the original advisory group, launched under Labour, met with the public and made the first test.
And the government has never held an official consultation since to assess the test's aims and purposes in promoting integration and shared fundamental British values and ensure the test is fit for purpose.
Over two million tests have been sat using three different test editions and concerns of its effectiveness are mounting.
Professor Brooks's report claims that the UK has the only citizenship test that does not require any applicant to know how to contact emergency services, report a crime or register with a GP. It also does not require applicants to know who is head of state, the number of representatives, or the name of the court at the head of the judiciary system.
However, it does require applicants to know how tall the London Eye is and the age of Big Ben's clock tower. It also requires applicants to know only the exact dates that both Theresa May and Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, but no other Prime Minister in British history.
Other findings include:
- The test removed the need to know who head of state is after the death of Her Late Majesty The Queen.
- The government removed information about the UK's EU membership by the end of October 2019. This was before the start of the 2019 General Election and before Brexit happened.
- Current fact checking is ineffective with incorrect information untouched despite the government being informed of errors.
- There are different versions of the same third edition in circulation.
- While the test can be sat in Welsh and Scots Gaelic, the test handbook is available only in English.
- Home Office guidance on taking the test has not been implemented in full. When the government had this pointed out, they tried changing the guidance but implementation issues remain.
- There have been no unannounced inspections of test centres since February 2020. The government has no records of how many have been done. Half a million tests have been sat since.
Professor Brooks, who passed the Life in the UK test in 2009 and became a British citizen in 2011, said: "The Life in the UK test is essential for permanent residency and citizenship. In short, the test matters and should be taken seriously. The government is urged to accept the recommendations in my report to improve the test, its monitoring and inspections. These steps are crucial to ensuring public confidence by citizens of a key part of naturalising new citizens."
"The British citizenship test has been a test few British citizens can pass," added Professor Brooks, "it can and should continue to play its important role in becoming British, but an overhaul is needed urgently."
The House of Lords Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Participation, the House of Lords Liaison Committee and the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee have all backed recommendations by Professor Brooks in launching an advisory group to launch a new test and test handbook, the report adds.
The report is available to download from Professor Thom Brooks, website: http://thombrooks.info.
ChronicleLive has contacted the Home Office for comment.
Read next:
The Beatles autographs obtained in Newcastle on police charge sheet sold at auction for £3,400
- Reaction to latest Jesmond road closures – as bollards prompt one angry local to return council tax bill
- Metro chief admits services 'not good enough' as passengers prepare for ticket price hike
- 'Deeply troubling' scale of bullying and abuse in fire services revealed – a week on from Tyne and Wear allegations
