The report by an eight-member team advocates cutting application fees, holding citizenship ceremonies in iconic venues and allowing UK-born children to be considered British by right.

Its findings say the costs of applying for citizenship are prohibitively expensive and unaffordable for frontline key workers, who made indispensable contributions during 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cost of British citizenship exceeds the cost in Australia, France, Canada and the US put together, with families often paying several thousand pounds.

The report states that becoming a British citizen is “something to be proud of”, and suggests using iconic venues like Edinburgh Castle or Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium as citizenship ceremony venues.

It also suggests that the Queen and prime minister should hold a ceremony every year at which “specialist contributors” are given honorary citizenship, such as the scientists behind the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine.

Alberto Costa, the Chair of the inquiry and the Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, said:

“We should encourage those who want British citizenship and celebrate when people wish to become British. It is a common bond that we all share. Other countries use this as an opportunity to celebrate who they are as a nation, while our ceremonies are hidden away in council offices. That must change.

“A ceremony annually, where the Queen or prime minister awards citizenship to a number of individuals who made a special contribution to the UK, would underline the value of British citizenship to new citizens and society as a whole. High-profile ceremonies at Old Trafford, Edinburgh Castle or even the Palace of Westminster would send a clear message this is something we should all be proud of.”