![]() ![]() ![]() Consequently, it is no coincidence that these and later proposals were advanced as solutions to problems of social cohesion: for the author of the US pledge of allegiance, the Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy, the goal was to revive patriotic feeling in a polyglot nation. The swearing of oaths, promising allegiance to the Queen and to uphold democratic values, is also now an integral part of British citizenship ceremonies.Ĭritics of Goldsmith’s 2008 proposals noted that the inspiration behind these new oaths of loyalty was American not British. It was foreshadowed by the 2008 proposal from Gordon Brown’s Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, that all school leavers should swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. Yet, the Communities Secretary’s suggestion that these principles should be embodied in a solemn pledge was not unprecedented. For many commentators, perhaps following Butler, the fact that this pledge would take the form of an oath was irrelevant. (For Javid, they include tolerance, freedom of speech, democracy and the rule of law). Most of the responses to the mooted new oath have focused on what precisely ‘British values’ might mean. ![]() Javid’s proposal was in turn prompted by Dame Louise Casey’s recently published report into social cohesion, which also urged an ‘integration oath’ aimed at migrants. It was to such ‘feeble implements’ however, that Sajid Javid, the UK government's Communities Secretary, resorted in suggesting that an oath of allegiance to ‘British values’ should be sworn by all holders of public office. ‘Oaths are but words, and words but wind/Too feeble implements to bind’, Samuel Butler suggested in his Restoration satire Hudibras. ![]()
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