Australian justice minister denies UK citizenship Published duration 17 August 2017

image copyright Getty Images image caption Michael Keenan says he relinquished dual citizenship in 2004

Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan has denied he is a British dual citizen, after becoming the latest figure caught up in a political saga.

Australian MPs and senators are not allowed to hold dual citizenship.

Five other Australian politicians are due to have their eligibility for office tested in court over claims they are dual citizens.

Mr Keenan said he renounced his British citizenship in 2004 before entering parliament.

"I am an Australian citizen and I do not hold citizenship of any other country," he tweeted

Fairfax Media reported it took Mr Keenan two days to confirm he had renounced his citizenship. Mr Keenan accused the outlet of a "cheap grab for a headline".

He did not release documents showing his citizenship renunciation.

However, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Mr Keenan had "dealt with that matter" through his statements.

Mr Keenan was born in Australia but inherited British citizenship from his Durham-born father.

He is the third government minister to be swept up in the saga, after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan

Like Mr Joyce, Mr Keenan sits in the lower House of Representatives, where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's government has only a one-seat majority.

If any members of the government were to be ruled ineligible, it would trigger a complex process that could threaten Mr Turnbull's hold on power.

A section of Australia's constitution prohibiting dual citizens from holding office will be tested in the nation's High Court next week.