HOME Secretary David Blunkett has proposed that immigrants to Britain should first swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen and her successors.

Where would that leave declared republicans such as myself and Evening Press journalist Chris Titley?

Perhaps we would be seen as enemies of Britain, the way many consider Sinn Fein members to be because they won't take the oath at Westminster.

I feel I'm a British free-thinker, but that doesn't make me disloyal.

This country belongs to me, just as much as to the royalists.

Colin S Jeffrey,

East Mount Road, York.

Updated: 11:07 Friday, February 15, 2002