Al-Fayeds fight 'cavalier' treatment over citizenship

Michael Howard's handling of an application for British citizenship by the owners of Harrods, the Al Fayed brothers, was the "epitome of closed government", the High Court was told yesterday.

The Egyptian-born brothers, Mohammed and Ali, were refused citizenship last year - but were given no explanation for the decision. Neither were they given any opportunity, before a final decision was made, to comment upon any reservations the Home Office and ministers may have had about their claims for British passports.

Yesterday, the brothers' counsel, Michael Beloff QC, said the "cavalier" treatment of two men - who had lived in the UK for 30 years, have British children and who had made enormous financial contributions both in taxation and donations to charities - amounted to "as elementary and flagrant breach of the primary rules of natural justice as can be imagined".

Their applications for naturalisation were submitted 13 months apart, "but coincidentally refused in the same Delphic terms" he said. "One can without exaggeration describe the whole process as being the epitome of closed government," he said.

Both brothers - whose applications were supported by leading Conservative figures, including Lord Archer, Sir Gordon Reece, former adviser to Baroness Thatcher, and Sir Peter Hordern, MP for Horsham - are seeking a judicial review of the Home Secretary's decision not to grant them UK citizenship.

Their High Court action is the culmination of a damaging run-in with the Government.

Mohammed Fayed, the Harrods' chairman, was a source of the "cash for questions" allegations that resulted in the resignation of junior ministers Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith. Mr Fayed was also behind allegations concerning the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Jonathan Aitken's stay at the Ritz Hotel in Paris - allegations fiercely denied by Mr Aitken.

Mr Beloff made no reference to the cash for questions affair. He told Mr Justice Judge only that MPs had raised questions suggesting that the refusal was on "legally improper and political" grounds.

Stephen Richards QC, for the Home Secretary said that the brothers' challenge amounted to an attack on the way that all applications were dealt with by the Home Office.

The hearing continues today.