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The Celtic League have written to the Isle of Man Home Affairs Department posing a number of questions about the Manx citizenship test which is derived from a similar exercise being undertaken in the United Kingdom.
The Celtic League have questioned several points of emphasis in the 'Manx' test and most crucially suggested that the whole exercise could be interpreted as highlighting 'Englishness' rather than anything else.
"Hon Martyn Quayle MHK Minister for Home Affairs Department of Home Affairs Homefield 88 Woodbourne Road Douglas IM2 3AP
Dear Hon Martyn Quayle MHK
Citizenship Tests
The British citizenship test, which came into force in November 2005 and introduced throughout the UK, caused concern among members of our organisation as to how the tests would be administered and the sorts of questions that would be asked.
It is our view that the concept of 'Britishness' being tested is artificial and many of the questions in the test could just as easily relate to what it means to be English. Indeed many people - especially immigrants throughout the UK and non-immigrants in England - associate Britishness with Englishness anyway and the test questions, from all appearances, does little to persuade people otherwise.
We are aware that the Manx Government has now announced that they will introduce their own version of the test in Mannin/Isle of Man with six questions about Manx life and the remaining 19 being about life in the UK.
Some of our questions to you related to the citizenship test to be introduced in Mannin/Isle of Mann are as follows:
1) In consideration of the fact that Britain 's Home Office guidance recognises the validity of the other languages of Britain and states that if anyone wishes to take the test in Welsh or Scottish Gaelic arrangements will be made for them to do so, why doesn't Manx language competency satisfy the Mannin/Isle of Man Government criteria? In other words why isn't it possible to undertake this test in the Manx language?
2) When people pass the test in Mannin/Isle of Mann, will it be valid in the UK?
3) When people pass the test will this give them Manx and/or British citizenship?
4) On the Mannin/Isle of Man Government website ( (voir le site) ), it states that the test is to "encourage people to learn English and to find out about our structures, laws, democratic processes and traditions at the earliest opportunity, so that they can better realise their ambitions here and become full and active citizens earlier. Studying for and taking the test will give applicants the practical knowledge needed to live in this country and to take part in society." Could you please tell us what the underlined words refer to here? Do you mean Mannin/Isle of Man, UK, Britain or England?
5) Why out of 25 questions are only 6 going to be related to life in Mannin/Isle of Man?
6) Is this an indication of where Mannin/Isle of Man's Government priorities lie?
We would appreciate it if you could answer them as fully as possible and we look forward to hearing from you in this regard.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League
CC Hon Tony Brown MHK, Chief Minister's Office , Government Office, Bucks Road, Douglas IM1 3PG, Isle of Man"
On a related point the General Secretary has also challenged Home Office Minister Liam Byrne MP - Minister of State (Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality) - asserting that the UK citizenship test discriminates against people in Cornwall, Northern Ireland and Mann "by only offering the test through the medium of English".
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
23/04/07
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