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A father and ex-serviceman has been ordered to prove his Britishness by bureaucrats after returning from four years living in Spain.
Lee Brassington, who holds a British passport and served in the Army Air Corps, is living on the floor of his mother’s home in Pelsall with his wife and three teenage children, but says he must take the same test as asylum seekers in order to receive any support
The family returned to the UK earlier this month with just £100 in their pocket.
This is after their dream life of running a pub in sunnier climes came crashing down.
But they say their attempts at trying to rebuild their lives have hit countless barriers, from finding a home to securing benefits in order to support the family while they search for work.
Mr Brassington, aged 36, said they had hit rock bottom when told he had to prove his Britishness by staff at the Benefits Agency and Job Centre Plus.
11 Comments
The Brassington Case is the worst situation I have had to deal with, at every turn they have the door firmly closed. This is mothing short of a scandal, one that I will not rest until I have resolved. How dare some overpaid bureaucrat question the families Britishness, someone who has served his Country well.
THIS CASE MAKES ME EMBARRASSED TO BE BRITISH.
THE BLOKE HAS FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY FOR GODS SAKE.
WHICH EVER IDIOT ASKED HIM TO PROVE HE WAS BRITISH SHOULD BE SACKED IMMEDIATELY.
IF HE WAS A CRIMINAL OR AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HE WOULD HAVE SOON HAD THE AUTHORITIES FALLING ALL OVER HIM WITH OFFERS OF BENIFITS AND HOUSING.
ITS ABOUT TIME THE GREEDY BASTARD PC DO-GOODERS AND POLITICIANS TOOK THEIR FRIGGING NOSES OUT OF THE TROUGH AND DID SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NATIONAL DISGRACE.
I don’t like spongers but if this man is a British Ex-soldier how dare the muppets in charge question his Britishness.
Time to get your priorities in order Gordon!!!
This makes me sick, I am literally lost for words, how can this be justified. It wouldn’t surprise me if the person who asked him to prove his britishness was from another country and has come over here for better opportunities and is now sitting in a comfortable job funded by our country that this man has served. Just goes to show we are well and truly going to pot!
I am no longer proud to be British.I am so ashamed of my country now,i plan to leave it at the earliest opportunity.Since Labour has taken over ten years ago,we have been on a downward spiral,while one time lesser nations have overtaken us.In a couple of years this country will be in the gutter.
For one who now lives in Australia (after serving 6 years in the RAF), I wouldn’t just return to the UK and expect the country to subsidize my stuff ups from having tried to live overseas.
They made there bed and they have to live in it. Yes one would have paid taxes and national insurance but that doesn’t give someone the right to think they can return and the red carpet will be rolled out for them?
Kevin
I returned to the UK about 7 years ago after splitting up with my partner. I went to the local council for help and I had to sit a habitual residence test of nearly a 100 questions before they could consider helping me. British passport counts for nothing!!! It would have been easier if I couldnt speak ENGLISH!!! And had a different passport??? I passed the stupid test and got help BUT.. the stuck me and my 2 yr old in a bed and breakfast for 9 months????? no housing available …they said…..down to to many asylum seekers (WHAT???). No more to say on the matter!!!!!
Kevin Smeaton, having served in HM Forces, you should know and understand better, but then 6 years service is hardly a long time. This individual has served the crown and that should remove the need to prove his britishness. This chap should automatically move above all the bloody sponging imigrants expecting to come over and jump the aiting list, this government should be ashamed of themselves.
Carry on Labour! You are the best recruitment sergeant we in the BNP have ever had!!! Every day a new tale of discrimination against the indigenous people of this island, every day another Brit fed up with the Lib-Lab-Con-job, and every day another new member for our booming party. I love it!
If this is true, then its shocking. Poster No 2 says that he has fought for his country, but the article doesn’t say that, merely that he “served in the Army Air Corps”. I would have thought the Army angle would have been used more strongly. Perhaps the newspaper could do another article where Lee’s service career is mentioned in more detail, such as how long he did, which combat zones he served in, which wars he fought in, and why he left the Army. Maybe then we could get a truer picture of the whole story
terrible thing to happen to a man who served his country,, then to be told to prove he is a british subject ,,i can still remember a man who served in ww2 in a british regiment having the same problem,, and we treat the gurkers the same way ,, FIGHT FOR US BUT PLEASE DONT LIVE HERE AFTER TYPE OF THINKING