More memories of the great Glen Michael

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

North Wales Chronicle

19 minutes ago

North Wales Chronicle

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

The Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Bill was passed at third reading by MPs, and will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. Under the legislation, alleged extremists who lose their British citizenship but win an appeal against the decision will not have it reinstated before the Home Office has exhausted all avenues for appeal. During the Bill's committee stage, Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said black, Asian and ethnic minority communities will be 'alarmed' by the proposals. Home Office minister Dan Jarvis said the legislation has 'nothing to do with somebody's place of birth, but everything to do with their behaviour'. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Conservative former minister Kit Malthouse said: 'My trouble with this legislation is that it puts a question mark over certain citizens. 'When it's used with increasing frequency, it does put a question mark over people's status as a citizen of the United Kingdom, and that, I think, is something that ought to be of concern.' Intervening, Mr Jarvis said: 'He's making his points in a very considered way, but he is levelling quite serious charges against the Government. 'Can I say to him, in absolute good faith, that our intentions here have nothing to do with somebody's place of birth, but everything to do with their behaviour.' Mr Malthouse said: 'I'm not concerned about it necessarily falling into his hands as a power, but we just don't know who is going to be in his place in the future, and we're never quite sure how these powers might develop.' He continued: 'What I'm trying to do with my amendment is to explain to him that this is an area of law where I would urge him to tread carefully, where I would urge him to think about the compromises that he's creating against our basic freedoms that we need to maintain.' The MP for North West Hampshire had tabled an amendment which would allow a person to retain their citizenship during an appeals process if they face 'a real and substantial threat of serious harm' as a result of the order. It would also have required a judge to suspend the removal of citizenship if the person's ability to mount an effective defence at a subsequent appeal was impacted, or the duration of the appeal process was excessive because of an act or omission by a public authority. Ms Ribeiro-Addy spoke in support of the amendment, she said: 'Certain communities are often wary of legislation that touches on citizenship, because it almost always – whether it is the stated intention or not – disproportionately impacts them. 'And to put this clearly to the minister, I'm talking about people of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those who have parents who may have been born elsewhere, or grandparents, for that matter, they will be particularly alarmed by this legislation. 'Those of us who have entitlement to citizenship from other countries for no other reason than where our parents may have been born, or where our grandparents may have been born, or simply because of our ethnic origin, we know that we are at higher risk of having our British citizenship revoked. 'And when such legislation is passed, it creates two tiers of citizenship. It creates second-class citizens.' The MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill added: 'I would like to ask why the minister has not seen it fit to conduct an equality impact assessment on this Bill? I know it's an incredibly narrow scope, but these potential implications are vastly potentially impact-limited to specific communities.' At the conclusion of the committee stage, Mr Jarvis said: 'The power to deprive a person of British citizenship does not target ethnic minorities or people of particular faiths, it is used sparingly where a naturalised person has acquired citizenship fraudulently, or where it is conducive to the public good. 'Deprivation on conducive grounds is used against those who pose a serious threat to the UK, or whose conduct involves high harm. It is solely a person's behaviour which determines if they should be deprived of British citizenship, not their ethnicity or faith.' 'The impact on equalities has been assessed at all stages of this legislation,' he added. The Bill was passed on the nod.

Leader Live

35 minutes ago

Leader Live

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

The Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Bill was passed at third reading by MPs, and will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. Under the legislation, alleged extremists who lose their British citizenship but win an appeal against the decision will not have it reinstated before the Home Office has exhausted all avenues for appeal. During the Bill's committee stage, Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said black, Asian and ethnic minority communities will be 'alarmed' by the proposals. Home Office minister Dan Jarvis said the legislation has 'nothing to do with somebody's place of birth, but everything to do with their behaviour'. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Conservative former minister Kit Malthouse said: 'My trouble with this legislation is that it puts a question mark over certain citizens. 'When it's used with increasing frequency, it does put a question mark over people's status as a citizen of the United Kingdom, and that, I think, is something that ought to be of concern.' Intervening, Mr Jarvis said: 'He's making his points in a very considered way, but he is levelling quite serious charges against the Government. 'Can I say to him, in absolute good faith, that our intentions here have nothing to do with somebody's place of birth, but everything to do with their behaviour.' Mr Malthouse said: 'I'm not concerned about it necessarily falling into his hands as a power, but we just don't know who is going to be in his place in the future, and we're never quite sure how these powers might develop.' He continued: 'What I'm trying to do with my amendment is to explain to him that this is an area of law where I would urge him to tread carefully, where I would urge him to think about the compromises that he's creating against our basic freedoms that we need to maintain.' The MP for North West Hampshire had tabled an amendment which would allow a person to retain their citizenship during an appeals process if they face 'a real and substantial threat of serious harm' as a result of the order. It would also have required a judge to suspend the removal of citizenship if the person's ability to mount an effective defence at a subsequent appeal was impacted, or the duration of the appeal process was excessive because of an act or omission by a public authority. Ms Ribeiro-Addy spoke in support of the amendment, she said: 'Certain communities are often wary of legislation that touches on citizenship, because it almost always – whether it is the stated intention or not – disproportionately impacts them. 'And to put this clearly to the minister, I'm talking about people of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those who have parents who may have been born elsewhere, or grandparents, for that matter, they will be particularly alarmed by this legislation. 'Those of us who have entitlement to citizenship from other countries for no other reason than where our parents may have been born, or where our grandparents may have been born, or simply because of our ethnic origin, we know that we are at higher risk of having our British citizenship revoked. 'And when such legislation is passed, it creates two tiers of citizenship. It creates second-class citizens.' The MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill added: 'I would like to ask why the minister has not seen it fit to conduct an equality impact assessment on this Bill? I know it's an incredibly narrow scope, but these potential implications are vastly potentially impact-limited to specific communities.' At the conclusion of the committee stage, Mr Jarvis said: 'The power to deprive a person of British citizenship does not target ethnic minorities or people of particular faiths, it is used sparingly where a naturalised person has acquired citizenship fraudulently, or where it is conducive to the public good. 'Deprivation on conducive grounds is used against those who pose a serious threat to the UK, or whose conduct involves high harm. It is solely a person's behaviour which determines if they should be deprived of British citizenship, not their ethnicity or faith.' 'The impact on equalities has been assessed at all stages of this legislation,' he added. The Bill was passed on the nod.

We've found not one but two funny Scots comedies but there's a catch

The Herald Scotland

40 minutes ago

The Herald Scotland

We've found not one but two funny Scots comedies but there's a catch

Good For Her **** BBC Scotland/iPlayer REMEMBER the time we discovered a Scottish comedy that was genuinely funny? Only Child was the name, with Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh as a bickering but devoted father and son. Recently commissioned for a second series, it was a comedy to claim as one of our own. That was a year ago. Without wishing to alarm anyone, lightning might have struck again. And again. Govan Fair Queen and Good For Her, both shown on BBC Scotland, had laugh-out-loud moments and characters you would happily give house room to. Written by Paul Black, Govan Fair Queen starred Elaine C Smith as a doting granny determined that her granddaughter (Harper Blue Hamilton) will right a historical wrong by lifting first prize in a local talent contest. But first they have to get past the head judge (Julie Wilson Nimmo). Smith was in familiar Two Doors Down/Rab C territory at first as the fag-smoking gran in a housecoat and slippers. But both she and the story soon branched out. I've watched plenty of talent show skits, but none as truly madly Glaswegian as the one here. Let's just say there's one visual gag that's in keeping with the local culture. Read more Good For Her was a Fast Show-style sketch fest written and performed by Zara Gladman. You may be familiar with some of her characters, chiefly Aileen, the West End mum, but there are plenty of others and one truly unforgettable cameo appearance. Whether she is taking on the misogynist trolling of women comedians - surely not! - indie fan boys or the ways of local newsreaders, Gladman hits the mark slyly but surely. Before you get too attached to Black and Gladman, I have to interrupt this love-in with an important announcement: Govan Fair Queen and Good for Her are just 10 and 20 minutes long, respectively. While there is nothing wrong with starting life as a short or a sketch - Still Game, after all, came from Chewin the Fat - it doesn't have the same ring of confidence about it as a pilot (the Two Doors Down Hogmanay special that led to seven series and counting). A short can make the material look as though there's more work to be done. Yet both performers are already well known on YouTube and TikTok, particularly Gladman. You might think this made the transition from social media to mainstream easier, but that only applies up to a point. The upside of social media is that anyone can upload their work and have it seen. The downside is that anyone can upload their work, etc. What was always a crowded market has become even more so. So how can an act make the leap from online to primetime (or even just BBC3), assuming they want to? Given the speed at which YouTube is growing it might be smart to make the platform their main home. Plenty do and are earning a decent living. Alternatively, there's ye olde school way of building up a fan base, getting your name out there, and praying somebody up there in commissioning likes you. It needs to happen fast, though. See earlier point about crowded markets. Both Gladman and Black now have impressive calling cards made at considerable expense and it is up to them, BBC Scotland, and anyone else so inclined, to spread the word. Both films are available now on BBC iPlayer

More memories of the great Glen Michael

Hashtags

Try Our AI Features

Comments

Related Articles

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

We've found not one but two funny Scots comedies but there's a catch

More memories of the great Glen Michael

Hashtags

Try Our AI Features

Comments

Related Articles

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

Plan to strip citizenship from ‘extremists' during appeals clears Commons

We've found not one but two funny Scots comedies but there's a catch

Get Started Now: Download the App