With reference to the recent issue with Lady Susan and Ngosi Fulani- at what stage does someone become British?

Oreo is not new to gransnet

I think you have some sort of chip on your shoulder about the British Fleurpepper from what I’ve seen recently.
Hope that’s interesting to you.

Ta * lemsip*
I think I joined in October, so not new.

Oreo, you just could not be more wrong. You seem determined to turn this thread/question, into a nasty personal argument. Have you ever heard about 'playing the ball'.

What woud be interesting, as said, is your opinion about the question in the OP. I am British, by the way.

I am British and could easily take French nationality but no French person would mistake my accent.
The only time I have wanted to change was this year , I felt so ashamed of Boris Johnson, but he's subsided so I'll stay British

kircubbin2000

If you met Miss Fulani I don't think British would be your first thought, specially in that outfit!

If you go out if your way to appear in an outfit more usually (though not necessarily) seen in a different country, then you’re likely to be asked your nationality and where you come from.
For example, try appearing at a wedding in France in full highland dress. You would certainly be questioned, possibly even asked why you’d chosen to wear that outfit. Objecting to those questions in those circumstances shows a level of disrespect to your hosts, but it wouldn’t stop you being British if you match the criteria posted by Blossoming.
www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality.
Racism is something else.

And now, we’ve all been made aware of the dangers of pursuing the questioning based on appearance, whether usual or carefully organised.

It's an interesting question. My dad is German, has lived here for over 60 years, only took British nationality when Brexit made it necessary. I think he would feel it doesnt matter whether people thought he was British or not.

For example, try appearing at a wedding in France in full highland dress. You would certainly be questioned, possibly even asked why you’d chosen to wear that outfit. Objecting to those questions in those circumstances shows a level of disrespect to your hosts, but it wouldn’t stop you being British

But what if you were French?

Good question Siope. I have a friend who turned up at a wedding in Italy (he is Italian, born and bred) in full highland dress, because his grand-parents were Scottish, and he always loved going there.

Galaxy, do you have any idea why your dad did not acquire British nationality earlier?

As mentionned by another poster earlier, who had a Polish dad (so sorry to hear you lost him when very young)- it is perhaps different for those who were pushed by war, and forced to settle in another country. My OH's parents were pushed by a terrible regime, but they wanted to take British nationality and become 'more British than the British' and put the past behind them, asap. Easy as father was British.

I suspect he just didnt feel it was necessary or important. Possibly laziness . I am going to ask him that tomorrow.

My ex husband isn't British. But he loves it here. Has lived here all of his adult life. Has a British wife (no. 2). No intention of giving up his nationality and also no intention of ever going 'home'.

You are wrong GagaJo my son was born in the Netherlands but he is as British as you or me.

Hi dragonfly46, wrong about what? My DGS was born in Spain. He is also British. I agree with you.

Siope

^For example, try appearing at a wedding in France in full highland dress. You would certainly be questioned, possibly even asked why you’d chosen to wear that outfit. Objecting to those questions in those circumstances shows a level of disrespect to your hosts, but it wouldn’t stop you being British^

But what if you were French?

Exactly-Even if you were French, wouldn’t you expect to be asked about where you came from and even why you chose that outfit?

Rather than start a new thread, thought I’d post this here.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64005705

Yes, I saw that, grannydarkhair

At what stage does an apology become insufficient?
We've had one or two threads about this already.

Ngozi Fulani was born here.

I think you've become British when queuing becomes second nature and you automatically apologise when someone bumps into you.

I don't think we need to go over the Palace incident yet again.

I'm not much enamoured of an undercurrent I sense is developing, either.

I think you've become British when queuing becomes second nature and you automatically apologise when someone bumps into you

😀

I don't think we need to go over the Palace incident yet again
The subject is in the heading.

We don't, no, an apology has been given and accepted.
Lessons have been learned.

I have never felt any criticism from French friends for not acquiring nationality. Our decision was based on the fact that it is a lengthy process with a backlog of applications and we felt that we should give way to younger people with a more urgent need. We speak French, know very few other British migrants, pay our taxes and get on with our lives. I think French people understand this very well; many live in other countries but they remain French and retain the right to vote in France.
I csn't comment on expats as this is not an area where people work for British companies on a short time basis.
In answer to a previous poster Spain does not allow dual nationality.

Callistemon21

^I think you've become British when queuing becomes second nature and you automatically apologise when someone bumps into you^

😀

A market researcher called around this week (He was French, but that’s irrelevant)
At one point he dropped his pen.
I apologised,
And then I apologised for apologising

I think the interesting question is why people need or want to acquire nationality. If we were young working people needing to cross EU borders to work then it would make sense for us. I completely understand why EU citizens in the UK now feel they need it, as do others vulnerable to changing policies in a host nation.
If our host nation is happy to accept us as we are and we behave within the requirements of that nation and make a positive contribution to it, then I am not sure why we have to "become" anything.
As for "where are you from" there can be a line of intent in the question between curiosity and racism. I think it should be pretty clear when that line is crossed.

You are not British until you get British Nationality. Then it's legal.
What does annoy me is that people that acquire it spend so much time trying to alter the country or peopIe. think if you dislike your country so much you should seek a better life in one where your heart is.

Allsorts

You are not British until you get British Nationality. Then it's legal.
What does annoy me is that people that acquire it spend so much time trying to alter the country or peopIe. think if you dislike your country so much you should seek a better life in one where your heart is.

Could you give some examples.

Mamie

I think the interesting question is why people need or want to acquire nationality. If we were young working people needing to cross EU borders to work then it would make sense for us. I completely understand why EU citizens in the UK now feel they need it, as do others vulnerable to changing policies in a host nation.
If our host nation is happy to accept us as we are and we behave within the requirements of that nation and make a positive contribution to it, then I am not sure why we have to "become" anything.
As for "where are you from" there can be a line of intent in the question between curiosity and racism. I think it should be pretty clear when that line is crossed.

It's an interesting question.

Years ago, nationality wasn't even a concept. There was loyalty to a tribe, but that wasn't necessarily connected to geography.