Green Paper Related Discussions

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  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 1,224 Championing

    Applying for British citizenship is expensive, and for some, it’s also unexpectedly necessary.

    My friend moved to the UK from Italy in 1965 when she was just four years old. Her parents, both Italian, went on to secure British citizenship for themselves but, for reasons unknown, didn’t include their children in the process.

    She had always considered herself British. Having lived here all her life and never travelled abroad, she had never applied for a passport, so the issue of her citizenship status had never arisen. It was only after Brexit, when freedom of movement ended and new residency rules came into effect, that she realised she wasn’t officially recognised as a UK citizen. Because she had never been formally registered, the Home Office required her to provide extensive documentation to prove her right to remain.

    A National Insurance number and years of employment were not enough. The Home Office demanded a full history of her residence over the required period, which is paperwork most people would struggle to gather after decades in the same country.

    Despite working in social services since the age of 20 and holding a senior position, she faced serious uncertainty, including whether she could legally continue in her job. It was a complete mess. We spent countless evenings revising for the citizenship test together.

    As you rightly point out, EU citizens can still live and work freely across the EU. Since Brexit, however, British passport holders must now apply for visas to live or work in most European countries, while those with EU citizenship continue to enjoy the freedom of movement we once took for granted.

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,107 Trailblazing

    Yes. The resources and the forum are subscription only. However, the news page, the monthly newsletter, and the ESA and PIP tests are free.

  • Passerby
    Passerby Posts: 459 Trailblazing

    Do you know any particular YouTuber who's outstandingly helpful in this regard?

    Thanks.

  • johnnyy85
    johnnyy85 Online Community Member Posts: 149 Empowering

    can I ask a question if any one knows the answer too if and when the green paper gets approved will ECHR get involved ?

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 1,224 Championing

    The ECHR will only get involved if a person's human rights have actually been breached. However, before the court will consider a case, you must first try to resolve the matter through the UK courts.

  • johnnyy85
    johnnyy85 Online Community Member Posts: 149 Empowering

    I’m just getting prepared for the next step after the vote in June thanks for the reply

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 1,224 Championing

    I live in hope they won’t get everything their own way. It makes sense that you’re getting prepared for whatever follows the June vote. I’m not expecting much, but I haven’t completely given up on the idea that their reforms won’t be all plain sailing as they expect.

  • JasonRA
    JasonRA Online Community Member Posts: 240 Trailblazing

    The very fact that Reform are going to vote with Labour tells you all you need to know about both parties.

    On another subject, I emailed my MP regarding this situation and it was emotive but sincere, kind and respectful. I said there are some of us who have serious mental issues who can't work let alone go out the front door and I asked what of us?

    I said who is going to employ someone who has a history of rage issues? Hannibal Lector's vegan cooking club? I didn't say that 🤣

    Anyway I was respectful and asked her to acknowledge that any single person could become mentally and or physically incapacitated in a heartbeat and that financial safety net saves lives.

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 1,110 Championing
    edited May 15
  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,107 Trailblazing

    I'm sorry. I don't. I've subscribed to B & W for more than ten years.

  • LouCie61
    LouCie61 Online Community Member Posts: 90 Empowering

    Absolutely. Like you, I have just under six years to go until pensionable age. I worked for forty years, full-time, until disease and disability struck.

    I don't believe I will reach retirement age if these cuts go through. I will be in poverty and unable to afford the basic things. The stress of it all will push me over the edge mentally. This is not how I ever thought the end of my life would be.

  • Martinp
    Martinp Online Community Member Posts: 193 Empowering

    The government are soft on criminals but hard on disabled. They make me sick

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 2,107 Trailblazing

    Bear in mind that the are people going through the criminal justice system and in jail that have lived with undiagnosed autism, severe learning difficulties, mental health issues without support. Often these criminals have lived on the streets. Some have never had homes. Careleavers are very young people with difficult histories who are inadequacy supported. There but the grace of God go I.

  • bton1968
    bton1968 Online Community Member Posts: 116 Empowering

    yesterday itv news reported that almost 50 MP's are ready to vote against the cuts …..

    i'm confused as last week i'm sure i read it was closer to 100

    https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-14/almost-50-mps-to-rebel-over-welfare-cuts-as-labour-revolt-grows

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 397 Pioneering

    So you have made the connection too. If they are going to make immigrants wait 10 years for settled status instead of 5 then they will need to make up the numbers of our own people in work.

    This is a truly horrible idea and will not work. However they will try to make it work like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

    Starmer and Co must be stopped, somehow from doing this or have the proposals greatly modified before they drag us down too far. The whole aim of these evil proposals is so dangerous and inhumane it it defies description.

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 397 Pioneering

    I can believe that. That's the type he is. The only person he treats well is himself. Rayner has spoke out in favour of the cuts though so I don't rate her at all, if that's her attitude.

    Even if, privately she doesn't agree with the cuts, she shouldn't say she agrees just so she can keep her seat on the gravy train. They are all as despicable as each other, as far as I'm concerned.

  • secretsquirrel1
    secretsquirrel1 Online Community Member Posts: 1,392 Championing

    I didn’t until you mentioned it but it does seem rather coincidental. Mind you I don’t think he has any real info stopping immigration and he must know the disabled cannot care for the disabled. Who would give us a job looking after the elderly when we are disabled ourselves, that would be a health and safety risk . The fact they aren’t even mentioning the fit healthy job seekers makes me think it’s more of their stupid talk. It’s like a double assault on the elderly to me , the figures show it’s mostly older people losing pip but they can’t be relied upon to be carers so who will actually look after the elderly?

    I can’t understand what he’s planning as nothing makes sense. He’s just trying to outdo other parties as he has no clue himself or is this a plan to ruin the country ?

  • secretsquirrel1
    secretsquirrel1 Online Community Member Posts: 1,392 Championing

    Rosie duffield said he has a problem with women. I actually watched an interview with rayner before the election. She was interviewed by a disabled lady and came over very well . But obviously she has no real power and doesn’t want to lose her perks . You can tell what type of person she is by buying a council house , selling for profit then wanting others to lose that same opportunity.

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 397 Pioneering

    I apologise if I didn't explain that very well. 😊

    You pay for online advice guides that help you to apply for PIP, UC etc and they have additional guides to help you through MR, appeal and so on.

    If you pay the membership you will be able to download the guides and use them yourself or let someone else take you through them as the form is being filled in.

    I have made a screenshot of the cover page of my members only guide to PIP below

    Screenshot_20250515-090659.png

    I hope that makes it all clearer! 👍

  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Online Community Member Posts: 397 Pioneering

    I'm so sorry to hear what you have said in your message LouCie61. 😟

    This situation is something that none of us could have forseen. We knew that politicians were very much against us but the sheer scale of the cruelty involved this time and human rights abuses are still really difficult to take in.

    I worked for more than 20 years myself, in one job for 15 of them. I have been disabled for the last 21 years by MS/CFS plus an anxiety disorder and depression.

    I thought life would not be easy but I didn't think that they could make it so hard for us. 😞