It was encouraging to see Labour peer David Blunkett challenging the recent guidance from the Home Office, which asserts that individuals who undertake “dangerous journeys” will typically be denied citizenship (Starmer union ally joins opposition to rules barring citizenship for small boat refugees, 16 February).
During his tenure as home secretary, Blunkett established citizenship ceremonies to elevate the importance of attaining citizenship and foster social integration.
I served as a speaker for Hackney Council in East London from 2016 to 2017, overseeing numerous citizenship ceremonies. These occasions were profoundly emotional. For many individuals, obtaining citizenship marked the culmination of a lengthy and often arduous journey, providing them with a sense of security and a true sense of belonging.
In my role as a volunteer at the Hackney Migrant Centre, I’ve encountered various individuals who undertaken perilous journeys to reach the UK. One such person, a public servant from Iran, refused to participate in oppressive actions against demonstrators during the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022. His courageous choice forced him to escape for his life, arriving in this country undocumented. This harsh new guidance means that he may never truly feel at home here.
Rosemary Sales
London
Do you have a photograph you’d like to share with Guardian readers? If so, please click here to upload it. A selection will be published in our Readers’ best photographs galleries and in the print edition on Saturdays.
