Pledge of Allegiance

£440,000 · March 11, 2008

Wide-ranging recommendations to strengthen the significance of British citizenship are due to be published.

Former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith is expected to propose wider involvement in citizenship ceremonies brought in by the Government four years ago.

Schoolchildren could be encouraged to swear an oath pledging allegiance to the Queen and respect for the law, under the proposals, it was reported.

Citizenship ceremonies are already carried out for immigrants, and the team's report proposes holding them in schools where young people could take part.

Alternatively, events could be included in citizenship classes, which are already part of the national curriculum.

Sources close to the review said in an interview the plans would help foster a "shared sense of belonging" in UK society.

Lord Goldsmith's report is also likely to seek to clarify the legal rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship.

Last October, a preliminary report published as part of Lord Goldsmith's review said that schoolchildren should take part in the ceremonies for foreigners taking British nationality.

The style and content of the events should be "re-energised", perhaps with a rendition by schoolchildren of the pop song We Are The World, last year's report said. The study is also expected to suggest a major overhaul of "archaic" treason laws. It has been reported that laws, such as sleeping with the wife of the heir to the throne, which carries life imprisonment, would be scrapped or reformed because they are regarded as outdated.

Lord Goldsmith has also hinted at updating the national anthem by removing verses which are rarely performed.

It's not very clear how this might work but if I had kids in the UK I'd make sure that they were never encouraged to pledge allegiance to the monarchy. It's a ridiculous idea.

Gerry · March 11, 2008

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