All holders of public office could be forced to swear an ‘Equality Oath’ showing their allegiance to so-called British values, a Cabinet Minister said in December.
Sajid Javid, the Government’s Communities Secretary, believes those who do not accept such values will ‘struggle to play a positive role in British life’.
Traditional outlook excluded
But the idea has been criticised as it could lead to people with traditional views, especially of conservative religious faith, being excluded.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Javid backed a call to introduce an oath covering ‘fundamental British values’ for all holders of public office. Javid claimed that diversity is part of ‘what makes Britain great’, stating: ‘I don’t want to see a Government-approved, one-size-fits-all identity imposed on everyone in this country.’ But he went on to say that people should sign up to ‘tolerating the views of others, even if you disagree with them’ and a belief in ‘freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from abuse’.
‘I’m talking about a belief in equality, democracy and the democratic process. And about respect for the law, even if you think the law is an ass.’
Return to 1673
An editorial in The Independent strongly criticised the idea, saying it would deny the right to dissent and Christian commentators noted that it was in the 1600s that one had to affirm a belief in Government-mandated views in order to hold public office.
Sajid Javid made the comments in the wake of a report on integration by Dame Louise Casey.
