Immigrants to Britain must understand the UK’s values and in future will have to pass a new citizenship test, Sajid Javid announced today.
The Home Secretary said the current Life in the UK test was useful for a pub quiz but did little to help people integrate into British society.
Mr Javid told Tory activists in Birmingham new arrivals needed to understand Britain was a ‘liberal, democratic’ country.
He said an important part of the new test would be tougher exams of speaking English.
Immigrants to Britain must understand the UK’s values and in future will have to pass a new citizenship test, Sajid Javid (pictured addressing the Tory conference) announced today
The Home Secretary (pictured during his keynote address today) said the current Life in the UK test was useful for a pub quiz but did little to help people integrate into British society
Mr Javid also used his speech to the Conservative conference to unveil the Government’s new immigration policies, which say in future EU citizens will not be treated differently to people elsewhere in the world.
And he revealed a new crackdown on forced marriage, branding it an ‘appalling crime’ that is ‘not compatible with British values’.
In his speech to activists, Mr Javid said: ‘We welcome newcomers. In turn, we expect them to live by our British values.
‘And it is only right that we make it clear to all new citizens what we are for, and what we are against. The existing ”Life in the UK” test for new citizens is not enough.
Javid orders review into why most men found guilty of grooming have Pakistani heritage
Sajid Javid has ordered a review into why most men convicted of grooming come from a Pakistani heritage.
The Home Secretary – whose family is from Pakistan – said the crime was a ‘disgrace’ to those who come from the country.
But he said he would look ‘unflinchingly’ at any evidence of cultural problems and ‘act confidently’ in response to the review.
Mr Javid told the Tory conference: ‘As well as the awful cost to victims, if problems like this are left unchecked, they will also give fuel to those who want to stoke division between our communities.
‘This is how the seeds of destructive populism are sown. I’m in a position to deal with this confidently – and I will.’
‘Maybe it is helpful for people to know the name of the sixth wife of Henry VIII. But far more important to me, is that they also understand the liberal, democratic values that bind our society together.
‘Citizenship should mean more than being able to win a pub quiz.’
He added: ‘It’s about signing up to those values that we share and live by together.
‘It’s about starting as you mean to go on. It’s about integration, not segregation.’
Mr Javid said it was wrong that 700,000 people in Britain cannot speak even a ‘basic level of English’ – making it impossible for them to take part in society.
He said: ‘So not only will there be a new values test but we will also strengthen the English language requirements for all new citizens.’
Mr Javid paid tribute to Labour’s shadow home secretary Diane Abbott for breaking barriers as Britain’s first black woman politician.
But he launched a viscous attack on her party, lashing Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism.
Mr Javid paid tribute to Labour’s shadow home secretary Diane Abbott (left) for breaking barriers as Britain’s first black woman politician. But he launched a viscious attack on her party, lashing Jeremy Corbyn (centre in Liverpool last week) over anti-Semitism.
He said: ‘To see that party – especially its leader – repeatedly failing to respond to those concerns with the seriousness that’s required.
‘This party will root out antisemitism wherever and whenever we find it. Anti-Muslim prejudice is also completely unacceptable.
Mr Javid arrived at the conference with his wife Laura (pictured) ahead of today’s speech
‘It is a prejudice that is sometimes turning into violence.
‘I know from many friends, and family, that the Muslim community needs reassurance. We stand with them too.’
Mr Javid said he had ordered his officials to look into why grooming scandals often involve people from a Pakistani heritage – a background Mr Javid’s family shares.
He said: ‘This behaviour is a disgrace to that heritage.
So I’ve instructed my officials to look into this unflinchingly and where the evidence suggests that there are certain cultural factors driving this I will not hesitate to act.’
Mr Javid said there was damage both to ‘insensitive words or actions’ and to being ‘oversensitive’ meaning a failure to act.
He said: ‘As well as the awful cost to victims, if problems like this are left unchecked, they will also give fuel to those who want to stoke division between our communities.
‘This is how the seeds of destructive populism are sown. I’m in a position to deal with this confidently – and I will.’