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| Pupils 'to take allegiance oath' | Pupils 'to take allegiance oath' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| School-leavers are to be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country under new proposals being unveiled on British citizenship. | School-leavers are to be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country under new proposals being unveiled on British citizenship. |
| Ex-attorney general Lord Goldsmith, who calls for the ceremony in a report for Gordon Brown, says it would give teenagers a sense of belonging. | |
| Council tax and student fee rebates are suggested for people who volunteer - as well as a "Britishness" public holiday. | |
| The government said it would "study" the "interesting" report's findings. | |
| John Dunford from the Association of School and College leaders said the citizenship ceremony was "a half-baked idea". | |
| Graduation ceremonies | Graduation ceremonies |
| A Scottish Government spokesman said it did not support the plan and did not believe it would find favour with parents or school pupils. | |
| And Labour peer Baroness Kennedy said: "I think this is a serious mistake - I think it's puerile and I think it's rather silly." | |
| Lord Goldsmith, who quit government in June, believes that citizenship ceremonies for teenagers would help improve their sense of what it means to be a British citizen. | Lord Goldsmith, who quit government in June, believes that citizenship ceremonies for teenagers would help improve their sense of what it means to be a British citizen. |
| 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 Baroness Helena KennedyHuman rights lawyer | 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 Baroness Helena KennedyHuman rights lawyer |
| "Certainly there isn't a crisis of national identity, but the research does tend to show there's been a diminution in national pride, in this sense of belonging," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
| "The citizenship ceremonies, which are just one of the many things I have suggested, are a way of marking that passage of being a student of citizenship to a citizen in practise. | "The citizenship ceremonies, which are just one of the many things I have suggested, are a way of marking that passage of being a student of citizenship to a citizen in practise. |
| "It does make sense to promote a sense of shared belonging, a sense that you are part of a community with a common venture, to integrate better newcomers to our society and be clearer about what the rights and responsibilities are." | "It does make sense to promote a sense of shared belonging, a sense that you are part of a community with a common venture, to integrate better newcomers to our society and be clearer about what the rights and responsibilities are." |
| Lord Goldsmith said while he favours an oath of allegiance to the Queen, the statement could be a pledge of commitment to the country or a statement of what the rights and responsibilities of citizens are. | |
| Republican involvement? | Republican involvement? |
| He also stressed that he could not see why Republicans would not want to swear an oath, even though they may not believe in the present system of government. | He also stressed that he could not see why Republicans would not want to swear an oath, even though they may not believe in the present system of government. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWhat about swearing allegiance to the country instead of the Queen?JP, London Send us your comments | |
| However, Graham Smith of the group Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, told the BBC: "It's offensive to people who do actually cherish democracy and who actually cherish the sorts of liberties we've fought for centuries." | However, Graham Smith of the group Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, told the BBC: "It's offensive to people who do actually cherish democracy and who actually cherish the sorts of liberties we've fought for centuries." |
| He said swearing an oath would be an attack on people's freedom of conscience. | He said swearing an oath would be an attack on people's freedom of conscience. |
| If children refuse to take part, he added, "are they then going to be told or taught that they are somehow less British or less loyal or less patriotic?" | If children refuse to take part, he added, "are they then going to be told or taught that they are somehow less British or less loyal or less patriotic?" |
| Citizenship ceremonies already exist for immigrants and the report suggests holding them in schools, where youngsters who are about to leave the school and move on to work or further education could participate. | Citizenship ceremonies already exist for immigrants and the report suggests holding them in schools, where youngsters who are about to leave the school and move on to work or further education could participate. |
| Treason laws | |
| The peer says a new British national day should be established by 2012 to coincide with the Olympics and what will be the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. | |
| And young people who volunteer could receive a reduction in tuition fees, while others who work in the community could be given a small council tax rebate. | |
| The peer has consulted people in the UK, Europe, North America and elsewhere to pull together a series of proposals aimed at providing a "much clearer vision of what it means to be a citizen". | The peer has consulted people in the UK, Europe, North America and elsewhere to pull together a series of proposals aimed at providing a "much clearer vision of what it means to be a citizen". |
| Lady Kennedy, a human rights lawyer, said the proposal was based on a misconception of what it meant to be proud of a country. | Lady Kennedy, a human rights lawyer, said the proposal was based on a misconception of what it meant to be proud of a country. |
| She 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." | She 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." |
| Other proposals are thought likely to include a revamp of Britain's old treason laws, such as sleeping with the wife of the heir to the throne, which is punishable by life in prison. | Other proposals are thought likely to include a revamp of Britain's old treason laws, such as sleeping with the wife of the heir to the throne, which is punishable by life in prison. |
| Lord Goldsmith has also hinted at updating the national anthem by removing verses which are rarely performed. | Lord Goldsmith has also hinted at updating the national anthem by removing verses which are rarely performed. |