The main ideas canvassed in the document are summarised below. They are designed to put right the main defect in our present law. This is that our present citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, as its name implies, relates both to the United Kingdom and overseas territories; it does not identify those who belong to this country and have the right to enter and live here freely; in consequence it prevents the United Kingdom from basing its immigration policies on citizenship. Our citizenship is in these respects different from the citizenships of many other countries including our partners in the European Community.
Two new citizenships
The Possible Changes
In paragraphs 15-18 it is suggested that the present citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies might be replaced by two citizenships a British Citizenship for those who have close ties with this country, and a British Overseas Citizenship which would be held by the remainder of those persons who are now citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
People who would become British Citizens
It is suggested that British Citizenship should be conferred, in general, on those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who were born, naturalised or registered here (or in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man); on those who hold that citizenship by descent and have the right of entry; and on those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and British Protected Persons from dependencies or former dependencies (including those from East Africa) and British Subjects without Citizenship, who have settled in this country for a specified period (paragraphs 21-28).
It would be the intention that British Citizens and only British Citizens should have an unqualified right of free entry to the United Kingdom; but there are some people who now have such a right who would not become British Citizens under these