British High Commissioner’s letter to Editor of Times of Malta
British High Commissioner Rob Luke sets out UK's position on Malta's citizenship proposals
Dear Sir
Your article of 10 January states: “…the UK Home Office opposes plans by Malta to sell its citizenship on the grounds that it would give people automatic right to settle in Britain.”
It did not, however, substantiate that statement. We would have been happy to confirm the UK’s position, which is that decisions about who is a citizen of Malta are a matter for the Government of Malta. At the same time we are clear that any EU citizen who benefits from the right to free movement must adhere to the responsibilities this brings, and we work at domestic level and with our EU partners to tackle any abuse by individuals of that right.
As for the wider subject of the article, the UK’s investor visa arrangements, the UK Home Office has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the investment thresholds for its investor visa. The Committee is expected to deliver its findings in February this year and the Home Office will then consider those findings.
Rob Luke
British High Commissioner