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Follow on Google News |  Three reasons why Bloomberg can’t run for London MayorThere’s been much interest in trying to persuade New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to cross the pond and throw his hat in the ring. But UK immigration law will make this impossible.
By: Thom Brooks There’s been much interest in trying to persuade New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to cross the pond and throw his hat in the ring. Bloomberg won three terms and a popular campaigner. He counts London as his “second home” and David Cameron’s senior advisor Steve Hilton has called a Bloomberg candidacy “an incredible coup for London”. Bloomberg has said he will not run for London Mayor. Howard Wolfson, his former Deputy Mayor, said Bloomberg loves New York too much to leave. But could he change his mind and make a surprise announcement? All candidates must be a citizen of the UK or EU. Bloomberg is currently ineligible as an American, but some have claimed that his citizenship could be fast-tracked because of his significant investment in UK business. Bloomberg’s problem is that it’s all but impossible for him to receive British citizenship in time to stand for London Mayor. The first reason is he fails the residency test. Bloomberg’s considerable investments in this country aren’t enough. Americans like him must normally be resident in the UK for five years. An investment of £10 million or more opens the quickest path to applying for settlement, but would still require residency for two years. Marriage to a British citizen can reduce this period and Bloomberg was married to a UK citizen. But the residency requirement would only be reduced to three years and you must be married at the time of the application. Bloomberg divorced his British wife over 20 years ago. If residency were not a problem, Bloomberg would face at least two further hurdles. One is he’d have to study and pass the Life in the UK citizenship test. I’ve described this as ‘like a bad pub quiz’ containing obscure facts few British citizens know and might prove especially challenging for an outsider. It can take several months to book a test and it’s required for permanent residency. A second hurdle is that citizenship applications must normally wait one year after receiving permanent residency before applying for citizenship— Bloomberg’s failure to meet the residency requirement on any grounds, his needing to pass the citizenship test and the 18 month or more wait after a likely two or more year qualifying period are three reasons why Londoners should firmly rule out what would be an extraordinary political story. He can’t run even if he changed his mind. But it could happen in the following election so watch this space. ENDS MEDIA INFORMATION NB – Please note that Professor Brooks is also a member of the Labour Party. Interviews Professor Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government, in Durham Law School, Durham University, is available for comment on Monday, June 22, and Tuesday, June 23, 2015, on: +44 (0) 191 334 4365 (office); 07854 530987 (mobile) or thom.brooks@ Alternatively please contact Durham University Marketing and Communications Office on +44 (0)191 334 6075; media.relations@ *TV and radio broadcast facilities available* Durham University’s academic experts are available for interview via down-the-line broadcast quality TV facilities from our Durham City campus, via broadcast provider Globelynx. To request and check the availability of interviewees please contact the Durham University Communications Office on +44 (0)191 334 6075 or email media.relations@ You can book the Globelynx fixed camera and circuit direct by logging into www.globelynx.com (https://owa.dur.ac.uk/ If you have not booked a Globelynx feed before please call +44 (0)20 7963 7060 for assistance. A broadcast quality ISDN radio line is also available at Durham University and bookings can be arranged via the Media Relations Team on the contact details above. The ISDN number is +44 (0)191 386 2749. A landline number is available in our Media Suite which houses the television and radio facilities - +44 (0)191 334 6472. Photographs A high resolution headshot of Professor Thom Brooks is available on request from Durham University Marketing and Communications Office on +44 (0)191 334 6075; media.relations@ Further reading The ‘Life in the United Kingdom’ Citizenship Test: Is It Unfit for Purpose?, (https://owa.dur.ac.uk/ An earlier paper, The British Citizenship Test: The Case for Reform (https://owa.dur.ac.uk/ About Durham University - A world top 100 university with a global reputation and performance in research and education - A member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities - Research at Durham shapes local, national and international agendas, and directly informs the teaching of our students - Ranked in the world top 25 for the employability of its students by blue-chip companies world-wide (QS World University Rankings 2014/15) - In the global top 50 for Arts and Humanities (THE World University Rankings 2013/14) - In the 2015 Complete University Guide, Durham was the only UK university to receive a top ten ranking for all of its subjects and 19 of Durham’s 22 subjects were ranked in the top five. - Durham was named as The Times and Sunday Times 'Sports University of the Year 2015' in recognition of outstanding performance in both the research and teaching of sport, and student and community participation in sport at all levels. 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