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Indians largest group to get British citizenship in 2006

While 15,125 from India were given UK citizenship, Pakistan stood second with 9,050 of their nationals changing their citizenship.

Updated on: May 25, 2007 09:45 PM IST
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Indians were the single largest group to get British citizenship in 2006, latest official figures indicated.

HT Image
HT Image

While 15,125 from India were given British citizenship, Pakistan came second with 9,050 of their nationals changing their citizenship.

Other major groups were from the Philippines (8,840), South Africa (7,670), Nigeria (5.870) and Sri Lanka (5,720).

In the last one decade of Labour rule, one million foreign nationals have been given British citizenship.

In 2006, more than 150,000 people obtained a passport which took the total of foreign nationals given British citizenship to 1,020,000 since Tony Blair assumed the rein.

Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK said passing one million new citizens since 1997 was a watershed for government policy.

"It is hard to know whether this increase is incompetence or deliberate deceit. Either way we will pay a high price in terms of social harmony," he said.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said, "British citizenship is a privilege and it is right that it should be recognised and celebrated as a crucial stage in a person's integration into British life.

 
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
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