Government needs to rethink its commitment to citizenship, says Lords Committee

The House of Lords Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement is today calling for significant and timely change to enhance and protect democratic participation and engagement, and to promote integration. It asks the Government to reverse its lack of commitment to citizenship policies in the UK, and commit to making changes for a more cohesive and vibrant society. Citizenship policy has been incoherent, unfocused, and too often subject to short term, short lived initiatives.

While the Committee welcomes the publication of the Government’s Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper, published on 14 March 2018, it was disappointed that 15 months after the Casey Review was published the Government was publishing only a consultation document. The Committee does not believe that the Green Paper recognises the multi-dimensional nature of the challenges faced, and notes that consultations cannot be a substitute for action.

The Committee has identified four major issues:

• There is a need for fresh political thinking at every level including the designation of one government department (and one minister within it) with overall responsibility for the cross Government programme.
• There are values which we all share as British citizens and which we must all defend as a means of binding communities together.
• Education in citizenship and the ability to speak English fluently are basic building blocks for a well-functioning democratic system.
• The challenge of integration is a responsibility for all of us not any one community.

Chairman of the Committee Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts told Charity Today:

“A cohesive and dynamic society is dependent on citizens feeling secure, engaged and fulfilled. The Government has not given sufficient focus to establishing long term programmes which build trust and confidence between state and citizen.

“Individuals do not learn about the government and political institutions by osmosis. They need to be taught and taught well. The neglect of citizenship education in recent years is to be much regretted.

“There are certain social issues which simply cannot be left in the ‘too difficult box’.  These include debating and defining British values which we all need to accept, share and defend.”

“Our proposals do not require large amounts of taxpayers’ money. They may require some reallocation but above all they require consistent long term application, learning from experience and reinforcing success.”

Image Credit: Chris McAndrew [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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