Mr Khan says many immigrants know more about British culture and history than those who have lived here 50 years
A left-wing MP has claimed Britons who lived here for about 50 years know nothing about the nation’s heritage - compared to new immigrants.
Sadiq Khan, the shadow justice secretary, said it ‘frustrated’ him to see newcomers obliged to sit citizenship tests when many people ‘know b***** all’ about British history.
Mr Khan, the son of Pakistani immigrants and MP for Tooting in South London, said he met people who had gone through the citizenship ceremony, which all those granted a British passport must attend, who feel ‘so excited and enthused.’
But he added: ‘Then I’ll be canvassing in my area and there’ll be people who have lived in the same home for three or four or five generations who know bugger all about our country, about our heritage.
‘It frustrates me that you’ve got new citizens who have an obligation to learn about our country but we aren’t doing enough to make sure everyone shares that knowledge.’
Mr Khan’s comments angered Tory MPs.
Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, said the test ‘unites the country and breaks down barriers.’
He said: ‘If Labour want to scrap the citizenship test they should declare it openly.’
To gain citizenship or leave to remain in Britain, immigrants who speak a certain level of English must complete a test called ‘Life in the United Kingdom’ which was introduced by the Labour government in 2005.
It was overhauled by the Coalition last year to focus on British history including Winston Churchill, the English Civil War, Shakespeare and the Norman Conquest.
Before they are naturalised, they take part in an individual or group ceremony at their local town hall which involves an oath of allegiance to the Queen and listening to the National Anthem.
The Prime Minister announced last year the test would no longer include questions on the European Union and how to claim benefits, but focus on British history including the Magna Carta, which he notoriously failed to translate while appearing on US television.
David Cameron said: ‘Incredibly there are no questions on British history in the actual test. So we are going to revise the whole test and put British history and culture at the heart of it.’
Immigrants must complete a test called 'Life in the United Kingdom'. Last year it was altered to focus on important events and people in British history.
Mr Khan, a human rights lawyer before he went into politics, suggested in the interview with The House magazine that he had been a victim of racial stereotyping in the past, saying he had been mistaken for a defendant while at court.
Asked if it had happened, he said: ‘Yes. But I don’t play the victim card. I’m uncomfortable about discouraging youngsters from coming forward to be lawyers, judges and journalists and politicians.
'What I tend to do is try to explain to young people ‘work hard, apply yourself and you can achieve this’. There weren’t role models when I was younger. They are out there now.’
But despite acknowledging the progress that has been made, he backed footballer Rio Ferdinand’s decision not to wear the shirt of the campaign group Kick In Out and said manager Sir Alex Ferguson - who he professed to ‘admire’ despite being a Liverpool FC fan - was ‘wrong’ to discipline him.
He also expressed his backing for the Home Secretary’s decision not extradite Asperger’s sufferer Gary McKinnon to the US - following the Daily Mail’s campaign - saying he was ‘unhappy’ about the extradition treaty agreed in 2003 and praised Gary’s mother Janis for running ‘a fantastic campaign.
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