As the Commission on Integration reports, Ruth Kelly says we must walk the fine line between tolerance for migrants and retaining the identity of our indigenous communities
Britain is one of the world’s most successfully diverse societies. Trevor Phillips, speaking in 2006, put it bluntly: ‘Britain is by far – and I mean by far – the best place in Europe to live if you are not white’. Whenever we debate identity, community cohesion and our response as a society to extremism, we should remember that we start from solid foundations.
And many of the principles we inherit from previous generations – such as a deep commitment to equality for all – remain valid, as we strive to overcome the dearth of opportunity that some still face.
But as Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, and I argued in our recent Fabian society pamphlet, today we have to ask ourselves afresh how we retain our traditional tolerance, but at the same time nurture the sense of what binds us all together.
A sense of common citizenship has always been important. Empathy and solidarity are what make people come together to face up to shared problems. But today – with rapid population change, with the need for communities to be resilient in the face of the terrorist threat and with irreversible trends in the way we live and work, it is more important than at any time since the Second World War.
Liam and I argue that we need to take the next steps in what has been a quiet citizenship revolution. In the last few years we have introduced citizenship education in schools and ceremonies for new citizens. But we need to do more, and tapping into a sense of local identity is crucial.
For centuries Britishness has been largely successful at providing an inclusive sense of identity. It has always had to encompass the different nations of the UK. It is instructive that today, while some ethnic and religious minorities choose to identify themselves as English, many continue to feel more comfortable with Britishness.
But citizenship is so much more than a
And many of the principles we inherit from previous generations – such as a deep commitment to equality for all – remain valid, as we strive to overcome the dearth of opportunity that some still face.
But as Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, and I argued in our recent Fabian society pamphlet, today we have to ask ourselves afresh how we retain our traditional tolerance, but at the same time nurture the sense of what binds us all together.
A sense of common citizenship has always been important. Empathy and solidarity are what make people come together to face up to shared problems. But today – with rapid population change, with the need for communities to be resilient in the face of the terrorist threat and with irreversible trends in the way we live and work, it is more important than at any time since the Second World War.
Liam and I argue that we need to take the next steps in what has been a quiet citizenship revolution. In the last few years we have introduced citizenship education in schools and ceremonies for new citizens. But we need to do more, and tapping into a sense of local identity is crucial.
For centuries Britishness has been largely successful at providing an inclusive sense of identity. It has always had to encompass the different nations of the UK. It is instructive that today, while some ethnic and religious minorities choose to identify themselves as English, many continue to feel more comfortable with Britishness.
But citizenship is so much more than a
piece of paper or a list of abstract values. A sense of belonging is often developed through the rich histories and traditions of local places. And it is often action that gives citizenship real meaning for people – whether through participation in local democracy, volunteering or getting involved in other ways with the local community.
Many local authorities are already leading the way by making such opportunities widely available. I believe that, while a national day would provide a focus for celebrating everything that makes this country great, it would only work if it linked to local action. In Hull or Birmingham, local citizens’ days have already been piloted with some success.
The best citizenship ceremonies do not just welcome new citizens to Britain, but also to Yorkshire or North London or Cardiff. And it is why, when we recommend good neighbour contracts for newcomers – from Eastern Europe or elsewhere in the world – we believe these should not just be issued from an office in Whitehall, but should be developed with local communities’ input, as they are in places like Peterborough.
The Commission on Integration and Cohesion, chaired by Ealing’s chief executive, Darra Singh, addresses these issues with a particular focus on the role of local government. It is the springboard for a vital discussion about what both Whitehall and local authorities can learn to do better, looking at issues from translation to resolving local tensions.
Debates about identity are never easy. And there are certainly no easy answers. But one thing is clear: if they have been important in recent months, they will become more important in the coming years. Central government has a role to play, but if the quiet citizenship revolution we have started is to flourish, thinking local will be vital. n
Ruth Kelly is secretary of state for communities and local government
