Nationality Legislation

Until 1962 all Commonwealth citizens had the right of free entry and settlement in the UK. In 1962 Britain passed the Commonwealth Immigration Act, which meant that people from countries like Canada, Australia, India, Jamaica and the like could no longer enter Britain unless they had a job there. A new Act passed in 1968 said that only people, whose fathers or grandfathers were born in Britain, were allowed to live there.

The first race relations legislation was enacted in 1965. Legislation passed in 1968 widened the scope of the former. It also strengthened the criminal law on incitement to racial hatred. The third Race Relations Act of 1976 set up the Commission for Racial Equality. This legislation was further reinforced by the Public Order Act of 1986.

Nationality legislation is embodied in the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. Under this Act, citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies was replaced by three citizenships: British citizenship for people closely connected with Britain, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man; British Dependent Territories citizenship for people connected with the dependencies; and British Overseas citizenship for those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who did not acquire either of the other citizenships. Most of the citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who had the right of abode in Britain when the Act came into force acquired British citizenship.

Politics for promoting equality of opportunity in a multiracial society in which all citizens receive equal respect are pursued against a background of legislation against discrimination. The Race Relation Act 1976 makes discrimination unlawful on grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin the provision of good facilities and services, in employment, training and related matters, in education, in housing and in advertising.

Culture

Immigrants have immensely contributed to British cultural life. There is a rich variety of ethnic cuisine in Britain, especially in large cities. Italian, Indian, Chinese restaurants are enjoying a great popularity. Immigrants publish their own newspapers, organize ethnic festivals. One of the most colourful events is Notting Hill Festival in London. This is an annual carnival in August, mostly involving Afro-Caribbeans. The carnival attracts a lot of tourists and just on-lookers by its rhythmical music and bright exotic costumes. Immigrants contribute a lot to modern literature in UK. Among famous immigrant authors is Kazuo Ishiguro who was born in Nagasaki and raised in the home counties. In the 40 years since leaving Japan, Ishiguro has returned only once, on a brief "author's tour" in 1989 after the Japanese publication of his third novel, the Booker prize-winning The Remains Of The Day. Another well known writer of Asian origin is Salman Rushdie. He was born in Bombay, India, then in 1968 received M.A. from King’s College in Cambridge,UK, was an actor in London, then in 1975 began his authorial career. In 1981-82 he received literary awards for his ‘Midnight’s Children.’ His ‘The Satanic Verses’ (1988) became a very controversial novel.

Task 3. Check yourself questions:

1. Which parts of UK have Celtic historical roots?

2. What is the per cent of ethnic minority communities in the total population of UK?

3. When were waves of immigration into UK?

4. From what countries and parts of the world did immigrants come?

5. In what cities do non-white immigrants concentrate?

6. What do you know about Notting Hill Festival?

7. Where does the line dividing the North from the South go?

8. What are the main differences between the South and the North?

9. What are the main classes in Britain?

10. Speak about some attributes of the upper classes and the lower classes life.

11. What are the differences between the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish?

12. Name the biggest cities with a high density of population.

13. Which city has the largest China town in Europe?

Task 4. The population of UK is divided historically, ethnically, geographically, socially, from the religious point of view. Please give examples of the aforesaid divisions and speak of how these differences affect modern life. This task may take the form of a small panel discussion.

You may find the following phrases useful:

Celtic identity vs. Anglo-Saxon identity; North-South divide lowlands vs. highlands; density of population; urban vs. rural ways of life; classes; ethnic minorities; Catholics vs. Protestants; Afro-Caribbeans inner city areas; suffering harassment;

Task 5. Read the letter to the Sunday Express and enumerate the benefits of immigration for Britain. Can you add other benefits? Does immigration create any problems for Britain? What are they?