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‘A Common Place’: a debate on the sense of Britain’s identity and the concept of British citizenship.
Ruth Kelly and Liam Byrne
June 2007 Fabian Society, London
Report, Survey
English
This Fabian Society Freethinking pamphlet is a debate on the sense of Britain’s identity and the concept of British citizenship.
It refers to the changing patterns of migration as a factor in making Britain a more diverse and interesting place. There is a summary of what has been done so far to strengthen British citizenship:
• Citizenship studies introduced in 1999
• UK citizenship survey 2001
• English and citizenship knowledge testing proposed in 2003
• Commission on Integration and Cohesion set up in 2006
The pamphlet proposes both the idea of a National Day or a Citizenship Week and the idea of ‘Earned’ citizenship. It goes on to outline the workings of the new points-based system for granting settlement status which may be a precursor for those wanting to progress to the permanent status of citizenship.
There is a section on ‘Good neighbour contracts’ for new arrivals in which the importance of the response being at a local level is stressed. The New Links project set up in Peterborough to welcome newcomers is cited as an example of good practice.
Ruth Kelly was Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government at the time and Liam Byrne was the Minister of State for Immigration and Asylum.
The Fabian Society is a left of centre think tank which is affiliated to the Labour party but is organisationally and editorially independent.
http://www.fabians.org.uk/images/stories/pdfs/common_place.pdf
Liz Peadon
CREDS, Cambridgeshire County Council
Tutor/Researcher
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