Plans to make schoolchildren swear allegiance to the Queen
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2008 12:08
School-leavers may be made to swear allegiance to the Queen
Schoolchildren could be made to swear allegiance to the Queen under new proposals on British citizenship.
Former attorney general Lord Goldsmith today published his citizenship review claiming that formal ceremonies like those for new immigrants would develop children's sense of being a British citizen.
He also said that there should be a British national day to celebrate Britishness which would act as bank holiday during the year.
In an interview with the BBC, Lord Goldsmith said: "The point is to find a raft of different ways that we can create a greater sense of shared belonging in this country, greater social cohesion, and for people to understand more clearly what it means to be a citizen of this country.
"I think a formal ceremony which marks that passage from being a student, who's learning about the theory, to a citizen, who now is practising the reality of being a citizen, I think that is a useful thing."
The former attorney general claimed that young people who volunteered and worked within their local community could receive a reduction in tuition fees, while adults could be given a small council tax rebate.
Plans for citizenship ceremonies for school-leavers though have been met with considerable opposition.
Labour MP Baroness Helena said: "The symbols of a healthy democracy are not to be found in empty gestures and I'm afraid I see this as an empty gesture."
Republic group spokesman Graham Smith claimed that swearing an oath to the Queen would equate to an attack on people's freedom of conscience.
"It's offensive to people who actually cherish democracy and who actually cherish the sort of liberties we've fought for centuries," he said.
Lord Goldsmith has also alluded to updating the national anthem and reforming treason laws after he was asked by prime minister Gordon Brown to lead a review in to strengthening national identity.
The government has said that it would look into the review's findings but was not bound by the recommendations it makes.