Citizenship: Our Common Bond. Lord Goldsmith's report

Citizenship: Our Common Bond, former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith sets out reforms that ‘will make it clearer what it means to be a citizen and practical measures that may help to enhance a sense of shared belonging’. The report contains key findings from a five month investigation into the current condition of citizenship in the UK. To make it clearer who is a citizen and what it means to be a citizen it recommends: * Abolishing residual types of citizenship * Providing that only citizens should have the fullest rights to political participation * Reforming the category of permanent resident as it blurs the distinction between citizens and non-citizens * Reform of the law of treason to make the duty of allegiance relevant to modern conditions To enhance our sense of shared belonging along all stages of a citizen's journey through life, the report’s recommendations include: * Creating a clear statement of the rights & responsibilities of citizenship * Developing a new national day which becomes a focus for expressing our sense of shared belonging * That citizenship education has to be active throughout, consisting in learning through doing * Young people should have a citizenship ceremony at the end of school * Reduction in university fees for those who take part in civic activities * A new standard to give employers an incentive to promote civic engagement among their * Creating more mentoring opportunities for people at different stages of their lives The report also looks at how to engage newcomers to the UK in UK society. * Taking new steps to promote the learning of English - including language loans * A mentoring scheme for people aspiring to become citizens * Encouraging more people to take a citizenship course * Using citizenship ceremonies to connect new citizens with the local community To view the full report http://www.justice.gov.uk/reviews/citizenship.htm