Swearing Allegiance Not The Solution

12.17.57pm GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg spoken out against new proposals on British citizenship in which school-leavers are to be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country. Ex-attorney general Lord Goldsmith, who is calling for the ceremony in a report to Gordon Brown, says it would give teenagers a sense of belonging.

Commenting on the suggestion that young people should swear oaths of allegiance Nick Clegg said:

"If we really want to create a sense of belonging for teenagers then there are far better ways to do it than simply asking people to swear allegiance to Queen and country.

"People should not feel that being British is about swearing allegiance, it should be about taking an active role in society. Until people feel they have a genuine say in the system then they will never feel like they are true citizens.

"We need to fix our broken political system that leaves people feeling alienated rather than empowered, as well as taking power away from Westminster and putting it back into the hands of people."

Human Rights lawyer and Labour Peer Lady Kennedy agreed, saying 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."