Milford born former Foyle DUP MLA to get British passport after 20-year battle

A Donegal-born former DUP Foyle MLA is to get a British passport for the first time after a 20-year battle.

Lord William Hay of Ballyore, originally from Milford, had previously been denied a passport because he was born in the Republic, although he lived in Northern Ireland for most of his life.

The former Assembly speaker, who was born in Milford in 1950, is among thousands of unionists born in the 26 counties who have faced considerable red tape in their attempts to secure UK citizenship. This is because automatic entitlement to British citizenship ended when the Irish Free State left the British Commonwealth in 1949.

Lord Hay was told that he would have to undergo a naturalisation process before being entitled to a British passport. He currently holds an Irish passport.

Lord Hay had previously raised concerns about the process including costs.

On Friday, the UK government backed a private members' bill brought by DUP MP Gavin Robinson.

It would allow people born in the Republic of Ireland after 1948 who move to Northern Ireland legally and live there for more than five years to register as British citizens.

After the Republic of Ireland left the Commonwealth in 1949, people born in the Republic were no longer entitled to British citizenship or passport.

In putting forward his bill, Gavin Robinson told MPs he was seeking to right a wrong.

He said under the Belfast Agreement those born in Northern Ireland were entitled to hold an Irish passport but those born in the Republic and who consider themselves British were denied a UK passport.

He added that he has been seeking to introduce the bill for the past nine years but without success.

In response, Home Office Minister Tom Pursglove said the government would be supporting the bill subject to some small amendments which had already been agreed with the DUP MP.

He added it was right to "find a way to correct this issue in the system".

"It will make a credible difference to those Irish nationals who want to be British citizens," he said.