The outrageous decision to reject former Ipswich mayor Inga Lockington’s application for British citizenship must be reversed now.

Ipswich Star: Inga Lockington with her letter from the Home Office and her Danish passport from the 1970s Picture: PAUL GEATERInga Lockington with her letter from the Home Office and her Danish passport from the 1970s Picture: PAUL GEATER (Image: Archant)

That’s the Ipswich Star’s challenge to Home Secretary Sajid Javid today, a week after we first broke this story.

Mrs Lockington, a Liberal Democrat councillor for 19 years and mayor of her adopted town 10 years ago, is Danish. She married Dr Tim Lockington in 1979 and has lived here ever since.

READ MORE: Two-week wait for Inga Lockington decision from Home Office

The Brexit vote, and a change to Danish law, persuaded her to apply for UK citizenship – but the Home Office rejected her application because it “cannot be satisfied that you were permanently resident in the UK.”

Mrs Lockington has lived in the UK for nearly 40 years.

If the Home Office, which is still reviewing the case, can treat somebody who has served public office with such distinction in this way, what hope for others?

We urge Mr Javid to intervene today.