British-born tradesman told to leave country – because his mum’s Australian
AN APPRENTICE joiner born and brought up in Britain has been ordered to leave the country.
Shane Ridge, 21, has been told by the Home Office that he has no lawful basis to be in the UK despite his father Paul and all four grandparents being British.
Complications have arisen because his mother Sue Ebbs, 45, was born in Australia. Under UK law if a child was born before July 2006 the father’s British nationality will usually pass automatically to the child if he was married to the mother at the time of birth.
Mr Ridge’s parents never married so he does not have an automatic right to citizenship and must apply for ‘right of abode’.
The tradesman, from Colne, Lancashire, first became aware of problems about his status when his application for a UK passport was rejected last year. He then applied for an Australian one, which was approved because his mother has dual British and Australian citizenship.
This month he received a Home Office letter ordering him to leave the country immediately or risk a £5,000 fine, imprisonment and removal by force. It also warned that his driving licence would be revoked.
The letter said the Home Office is working to ‘stop access to benefits and services for those with no lawful basis to be in the UK’, adding: ‘This includes you.’
Mr Ridge, who may have to apply for British citizenship from Australia, has until Friday to challenge the decision. He said: ‘It’s surreal. I was born in the UK, I pay tax and I vote. My parents say it will be fine but I’m scared.’ The Home Office would not comment on an ongoing case.