Broadcaster: Boris Johnson’s father seeks French citizenship

Broadcaster: Boris Johnson’s father seeks French citizenship

As Britain prepares to split from the European Union, the father of Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to be seeking closer ties with the bloc by applying for French citizenship.

Stanley Johnson told broadcaster RTL on Thursday that he was in the process of “reclaiming” his French identity.

“It is not a question of becoming French. If I understand correctly, I am French. My mother was born in France. Her mother was completely French, as was her grandfather,” he told RTL, which said Mr Johnson, 80, is putting together a French citizenship request.

“So for me it is a question of reclaiming what I already have.”

Conservative Party Conference
Boris Johnson is congratulated by his father Stanley Johnson after delivering his speech during the Conservative Party Conference in 2019 (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Once Britain leaves the EU at 11pm on Thursday, Britons will lose the automatic right to live and work in the 27 EU countries, but those with dual nationality will still be able to do so.

“I will always be European. That is certain,” Stanley Johnson said.

“You cannot tell the English, ‘You are not European’. Europe is always more than the common market, more than the European Union. But having said that, yes, having a link like that to the European Union is important.”

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