Deprivation of British citizenship and withdrawal of passports 3 Timeline of changes to powers to remove British citizenship 3.1 1915-2003: deprivation of naturalised citizenship 1 January 1915 The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 comes into force. The act provides for revocation of a naturalisation certificate if “obtained by false representations or fraud”. At this time, it does not allow revocation for other misconduct. 52 8 August 1918 The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1918 comes into force. This amends the 1914 act, including by requiring the Home Secretary to revoke naturalisation certificates if satisfied of certain misconduct other than fraud. The amended version provides for revocation where: • • • Naturalisation has been “obtained by false representation or fraud, or by concealment of material circumstances”, or A naturalised citizen has “shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected or disloyal to His Majesty”, or A naturalised citizen has – – committed certain types of misconduct, such as trading with the enemy in time of war or criminal offending, and it is “not conducive to the public good” for them to remain a citizen53 On second reading in the House of Lords, Viscount Sandhurst argues for the government that “especially in war time, these [1914 Act] powers were not 52 53 15 British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914, section 7. The ‘original’ version on legislation.gov.uk does not contain the original wording of section 7 as passed. For debate on the clause that became section 7, see HC Deb 29 July 2014 vol 65 cc1485-86. There was previously no power to cancel naturalisation certificates under any circumstances: HC Deb 16 November 1914 vol 68 cc226-7W British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1918, section 1 (PDF). See also Laurie Fransman KC and Adrian Berry, Fransman’s British Nationality Law, 4th edition, 2024, section 6.6.1; Secretary of State for the Home Department v Hicks [2006] EWCA Civ 400, 12 April 2006, paragraphs 14-19 Commons Library Research Briefing, 18 December 2024