Commentary on Sections Removal Section 75: Exemption from deportation
204.Under section 7(1)(a) of the 1971 Act Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Republic of Ireland cannot be deported on grounds of the public good if they: (a) were Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland citizens on 1st January 1973 (the date of the coming into force of the 1971 Act); (b) were ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom at that time; and (c) have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom ever since.
205.Under section 7(1)(b) of 1971 Act Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Republic of Ireland cannot be deported if they were ordinarily resident here on 1 January 1973 and have been ordinarily resident here for the 5 years prior to a decision to make a deportation order. Clearly, someone who has been ordinarily resident here at all times since 1 January 1973 has also been resident here for 5 years before the decision to deport. Subsection (2) therefore repeals section 7(1)(a) of the 1971 Act which is redundant.
206.Subsection (3) replaces section 7(1)(b) of the 1971 Act.