Cirencester man fights for UK citizenship (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester man fights for UK citizenship

A BRITISH army captain who served in Iraq and Kosovo has been refused British citizenship - for spending too much time abroad.

Capt Warwick Strong, who lives in Cirencester and is currently studying at the Royal Agricultural College, was refused a British passport because he has spent more than 90 days out of the country on active service.

The 29-year-old, whose father and grandfather were both army colonels, left the Royal Artillery three months ago after six years service.

However, despite being praised for his military record, he has been told by the Home Office he does not qualify for citizenship.

Born in Zimbabwe, Capt Strong came to Britain on an ancestral visa in 1998, which has been renewed until October 2006.

He enrolled at Sandhurst after attending university in South Africa, and has since served in Gutersloh, Germany, and as part of a peacekeeping force working for the Black Watch regiment in Kosovo.

He was also sent to Basra for three months last year.

His father, Colonel Jeremy Strong, who lives in Perrott's Brook, said the rejection was a slap in the face from the Government.

He said: "If you are serving in the British Army, you are posted away on active service in foreign countries on the orders of the Government. "It is not your will or wish to do that, but because of it they have now refused him citizenship."

In order to qualify for a British passport, an applicant must reside in the UK for five years and not be out of the country for more than 90 days in any year.

Col Strong said of his son's reaction: "He's disgusted about it, he really is. "He's gone out to protect the interests of the country and the free world in Kosovo and Iraq and he's been denied citizenship through no fault of his own.

"If he had worked in a bank, he would now qualify for a British passport because he would not have been outside the country for 90 days.

"The Government uses him and then when he wants something back like a passport, it says, 'No thank you'."

Col Strong, who himself served in the Royal Artillery, said his family were all British citizens and had a long history of serving their country.

Colonel Cecil Strong, Warwick's grandfather, served in the British Army for 32 years, fought in both world wars, and was awarded an OBE and MC.

Warwick's grandmother, Jean Strong, also served in Queen Alexandra's Royal Nursing Corps.

Col Strong applied for British citizenship for his son in 1987, but that was rejected because his job with Norwich Union required him to live in Paris.

Warwick also applied in 2002, but he had been posted abroad too often.

Now, Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has sparked an investigation into the Home Office's refusal to issue the passport.

Mr Clifton-Brown, who recently raised the issue in a House of Commons, has brought the matter to the attention of Speaker Michael Martin.

The Cotswold MP told Mr Martin he had put questions to Home Office ministers about Capt Strong's application in November, but he was yet to receive a reply.

He said: "This is nothing short of a public scandal. When I received the details about it, I nearly hit the roof. It just seems to me so totally wrong. "Capt Strong pays British income tax, serves British interests and could lay down his life for this country, but the Home Office refuses him citizenship.

"I am delighted that the Speaker of the Commons has looked upon this matter favourably and is investigating why the Home Office is dithering on what should be a straight forward issue."

A Home Office spokesman said it would not comment on individual cases.