LONDON Euro-MP Jean Lambert this morning attended Waltham Forest's first ever citizenship ceremony - welcoming new British citizens to the borough alongside civic leaders.
More than a dozen new British citizens - originally hailing from Somalia, Asia and even Australia - took an oath and made a loyalty pledge before civic leaders including Waltham Forest's mayor.
Green Party MEP Mrs Lambert, who lives in Walthamstow, said: "Working in the European Parliament I am often forced to consider identity issues - whether I am a Londoner, A Briton or a European in any particular context.
"I have never been forced to choose one such identity and abandon the others however. Today's ceremony was moving, as some participants were doing exactly that - adopting citizenship of a new nation and forever turning their back on their previous nationality."
Mrs Lambert, a member of the Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, added: "I have mixed feelings about the new citizenship ceremonies, but it is important to extend a proper welcome to new citizens and to re-affirm the rights and responsibilities of both citizens and the state."
The participants were entertained by music from the choir of Heathcote School, North Chingford - a school where Mrs Lambert formerly worked as a teacher.
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