‘In the moment it was great to be British’: The uncynical positivity of a British citizenship ceremony

In 1990, the UK reconnected to mainland Europe for the first time since the Ice Age. At a ceremonial meeting on 1 December, 75 metres beneath the sea, Channel Tunnel construction workers who’d started at either side and met in the middle brought gifts for each other that defined their homeland. The French turned up with Champagne, of course; the British handed over a Paddington soft toy. 

But it is only with the release of Paddington in Peru that this mascot of Britain is officially British. He even received a genuine passport from the Home Office. 

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In some ways, his journey to citizenship was a long one, Paddington was first introduced in Michael Bond’s books in 1958 after all, but in others it was a bit too simple. 

This time last year, my wife was taking her Life in the UK test to be granted citizenship. Hers probably seemed a longer journey than Paddington’s: coming here to study, part-time waitressing jobs, meeting me, graduation, employment, deciding to keep meeting me until we moved in together and got married. 

I wrote at the time about the triviality of the questions asked during the test. Apart from assisting with the answers of a few questions on The Chase, the relevance of historical battles, Henry VIII’s wives and parliamentary peculiarities don’t help us understand much about life in the UK today. 

But one aspect of the process was revealing. Several months after passing the test, in the dying days of the previous government that had prided itself on creating a hostile environment for outsiders, there was the citizenship ceremony. 

I accompanied her as a guest and we entered an elegant room reserved for special occasions in Glasgow City Chambers. Acoustic versions of Loch Lomond and Wild Mountain Thyme played in the background to set the mood as fresh citizens gathered. 

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In front of a portrait of the Queen, sandwiched between a Union Flag and Saltire, an official welcomed everybody. He started by explaining that they hadn’t received an updated Charles pic yet. 

Everybody stood to take an oath. Just as I suspect not every British citizen would pass the Life in the UK test, not every British citizen would be happy to take the oath. 

“I [insert name here] swear that on becoming a British citizen I will be faithful and pledge true allegiance to his majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors.” 

Each new citizen’s name was read out as they received their certificate. There were people from Africa, Pakistan, Ukraine and across Europe and we applauded each. To finish we stood for the National Anthem, as though it was the end of a picture show from black and white days. 

The whole experience was so novel – both by being quaintly old-fashioned and in its uncynical positivity and inclusivity. In the moment it was great to be British. 

Afterwards, we spoke to a man from Gaza. This day represented the end of a 24-year journey. He had moved here while still a child and for the last 10 years had had constant rejections of his citizenship application. Thanks to Israeli military activity, authorities must have finally decided his claim for refuge was valid. 

With the certificate, was a letter of welcome from the then home secretary James Cleverly (whatever happened to him?), who had written: “Communities in the United Kingdom are stronger due to the wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences that have created them. We share fundamental values of integrity and fairness, adherence to the rule of law and order, commitment to democracy and our protection of freedom of speech.” 

Words worth remembering whether a life-long citizen, Palestinian refugee or Paddington. 

While rhetoric about migration can default to rage and misunderstanding, this felt like an insight into the aspect of migration that really mattered. 

Steven MacKenzie is deputy editor of the Big Issue. Read more of his writing here.

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