'Citizenship ceremonies not backed'

Local government's citizenship spokesman Mark Rimmer said he believed no Cabinet minister had attended one of the naturalisation celebrations since they were launched in the presence of the Prince of Wales in February 2004.

He also recommended "re-energising" the style and content of the ceremonies, perhaps with a rendition by schoolchildren of the pop song We Are The World.

Mr Rimmer, who is service director of the Brent Registration and Nationality Service, made the comments in a pamphlet published as part of an official review commissioned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr Rimmer said: "There is a perception that there has been a cooling of enthusiasm for ceremonies in central government... and no high-profile politician is seen to be championing the cause and encouraging local councils to be imaginative and innovative.

"It is now three years since the ceremonies were introduced and they have become, for most local councils, an administrative process."

He added: "No home secretary since David Blunkett, whose big idea they were, has attended a ceremony since the first one.

"I co-ordinate citizenship nationally on behalf of local government and I don't know any Cabinet ministers that have pitched up since then, which seems a little odd as they were a great idea."

The 12-page pamphlet was published on the day a citizenship ceremony will be staged overlooking the pitch at Wembley Stadium for the first time.

Nineteen immigrants who have applied for British citizenship will take an oath at the venue, watched by former attorney general Lord Goldsmith QC, who is conducting the citizenship review for Mr Brown.