Rising East Online

Multiculturalism and the ‘war on terror’

Redbridge MP Fails Britishness Test

—Daniel Adam

Those wishing to apply for British nationality must now answer questions on British history and culture – the so-called Britishness test. This controversial measure is intended to promote and recognise participation in multicultural British society, but has also been criticised for prolonging the application process and endorsing a siege mentality. Among those supporting the test is Labour’s Mike Gapes, MP for Redbridge, which makes him my local MP.

When I went along to interview him, Gapes made favourable references to nationality ceremonies in the USA, adding: ‘it should have been done a long time ago, and it is an event that people should be proud of.’ This made the Britishness test sound like an award to those seeking citizenship, a kind of welcome pack. But then he said something which would have gone down well among those who do not welcome foreigners: ‘nationality is something that should be earned and not just given away.’

So how can Britishness be earned? According to the test procedure, by correctly answering questions such as:

• What is Britain’s favourite dish?
• Who has replaced Richard Whiteley on Countdown?
• What must dog owners do by law?
• What is a toad in the hole?

When I asked Mike Gapes if he would be willing to take a Britishness test, he happily agreed. As a supporter of it, he would, wouldn’t he? And surely there can be no more active, well-integrated participants in British society than elected members of the House of Commons. Gapes was bound to pass with flying (British) colours.

The conditions were not exactly the same as those stipulated by the Home Office. In my home-made test, Gapes was required to answer only 10 questions instead of 20. These were read out to him, and he could take as long as he wanted to give his answer. But it was all over in five minutes (which I recorded on videotape). At the end of it, with a great big smile on his face, Gapes said ‘I have failed, haven’t I?’ His instincts (if not his answers) were right.

With only half the questions answered correctly, Mike Gapes MP, the honourable member for Redbridge, had failed the test. If his score-rate remained as low as that in a real test, and if he were an incomer to Britain, he would have been denied citizenship on grounds, presumably, of insufficient engagement with British society. Not good for someone who is meant to represent it.

In mitigation, Gapes claimed that some questions were irrelevant and that the reference to Richard Whiteley was unfair. Nevertheless he went on to say he still had full faith in the system – unlike students at the University of East London. In a recent survey which I conducted, 90 out of 100 said that the Britishness test would not help people integrate.

Daniel Adam is studying journalism.

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