Oath of allegiance

Lord Goldsmith, the man complicit in providing the dubious veil of legality used by Blair's to justify going to war in Iraq, has suggested that school leavers should swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country. He claims that research shows that there is a diminution in national pride and of belonging and suggests that citizenship ceremonies for teenagers would help improve their sense of what it means to be a British citizen.

If Goldsmith wants to know why there is a diminution of national pride, he does not have to look far. These are two main issues - leadership and discipline or in this case, the lack thereof.

I cannot think of a single person I know who regards politicians, and especially the party in power, as trustworthy. National leadership is conspicuous by its absence, with lack of transparency, blatant lies by politicians like Blair and ongoing revelations of dubious financial dealings involving the Speaker, a number of cabinet ministers and senior opposition members.

Secondly, discipline is lacking. Ever since the PC Brigade were able to ban corporal punishment in schools and the hanging of violent criminals, we have been on a downward slide.  Yobbish behaviour seems to  be the new cool, and with it comes violence and murder on an unprecedented scale. Government has been powerless to combat this. Asbos have proved useless, as has the policy of hugging a hoodie. In my opinion, this kind of shite needs hanging. 

But wait for it - Goldsmith also suggests that those who 'volunteer' should be given council tax and student fee rebates. What kind of shite is this? Surely a man with a Cambridge degree realises that loyalty cannot be bought?¹ Then again, as a lawyer he might be expected to march to a different drum to the rest of us. He is also suggesting that ministers should consider withdrawing Commonwealth and Irish citizens' right to vote in UK elections.

Whatever, may I inform Mr Goldsmith that loyalty can only be earned. Unfortunately, the likelihood of this ever happening in a country with no leadership capacity is unlikely. 

Goldsmith left government for a cushy job with an America law firm last year, and has been commissioned by His Brownness to provide a review of British nationality and citizenship. I would rather he did not share these outlandish, fascist ² views with us.  

See also this report.  

 ¹ Four (perhaps five) other Cambridge graduates, Burgess, Blunt, McLean and Philby, also had some dubious ideas about citizenship, loyalty and allegiance. 

²It is very dangerous to remove rights like this. When the apartheid regime did so in the Cape, they were roundly (and quite rightly) criticised. On the other hand, Labour has been removing our personal liberties on a regular basis.