Gove's citizenship pledge a gimmick, says MP
Michael Gove’s suggestion that EU citizens should be allowed to apply for UK citizenship for free has been derided as "an election gimmick" by a Black Country MP.
The Tory leadership hopeful wants EU nationals living in the UK at the time of the referendum to be able to apply free of charge for citizenship if he becomes Prime Minister.
But his pledge has received short shrift from Labour's Warley MP John Spellar.
He said: "Michael Gove’s Tory Government has ramped up the cost of applications for leave to remain and citizenship to extortionate levels.
"Yet Michael Gove – as a leadership election gimmick – only proposes to abolish it for EU citizens.
"This is a slap in the face for those from other countries – especially from Commonwealth countries – who will be outraged. We should be treating everyone’s applications equally – and a lot better."
Brexit-supporting Environment Secretary Mr Gove, who is one of 10 Tories running to replace Theresa May, will make an "open and generous" offer on citizenship, according to sources.
