A man who lived in Britain for almost 60 years before being asked to take a citizenship test by the Government has passed with flying colours.
Last month 58-year-old Leonardo Sutera, from Wednesbury, was left dumbfounded when the Home Office said he had to take the test. Leonardo, born in America, came to the Black Country when he was just months old.
The Home Office said he had to pass an English language course with a citizenship element, or a test involving questions on life in the UK.
They said living in the country for 57 years was not grounds for exemption.
So yesterday, Leonardo left his home in Friar Park Road to go to the Walsall Business Centre where he “reluctantly” sat the test.
He said: “It was plain daft. Where do they think I have been for the last 57 years? I went to school in Wednesbury, and worked and lived in Wednesbury, and yet they claimed that was not good enough to say I was British.”
Leonardo had to take a written test where he was asked about historical matters and basic questions about the country.
“I have arthritis, so I could not use the mouse on the computer,” he said.
“A man had to sit with me, and I dictated all of the answers. There was nothing difficult.”
After 30 minutes, he had finished the test and was told he had passed.
“They gave me a certificate and sent me on my way. It was a complete waste of time,” he added.
Divorced Mr Sutera now cares for his 81-year-old mother Marjorie Parkes.
The issue came to light when he moved back to his mother’s in Friar Park Road, and re-registered on the electoral roll.
When asked for his place of birth, he was sent a form saying he was “non-British” and had to be “naturalised”. He had to pass the test so that he could continue to vote in elections.
Len’s brother Mark Parkes, who went with him for the test, said: “It has really been a complete cock-up.
“Len is as much an Englishman as you or me. It is bureaucracy gone mad.”
By Dave Lawley
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