I seen a story today about 21 jobs in the UK Border Force to be based in Belfast. The advert for the jobs states that to apply you have to be a UK passport holder. Until recently this would not have been an issue for me as I held two passports, however when my British passport ran out I didn't immediately renew waiting to see the outcome of the Brexit referendum. As a result of that I haven't renewed my British one and only retain my Irish Passport.
I was born in the UK. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement as someone born in Northern Ireland I am entitled to identify as British, or Irish or both. Also under the terms of that agreement I should not be discriminated against because of my choice. However, the above advert if I wanted to apply for the job I would currently be excluded.
However, this is not the first time I have seen a public service related job advertised here in Northern Ireland lately being advertised as must have a valid UK Passport.
In recent months I have been outraged that the UK Government has been ignoring its own 1971 Immigration Act in how it has behaved over the Windrush generation. It also seems that in it own advertising for jobs here in Northern Ireland it is also breaching the 1998 Northern Ireland Act in advertising positions for UK passport holders only. Since Brexit many in Northern Ireland have taken up the option, if they hadn't already, of getting a Irish passport to have the ease of access to the EU post-Brexit.
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