SINCE the economic crisis hit, the debate on “Britishness” seems to have fallen off the party political radar. Yet in the face of economic uncertainty and rising unemployment, that discussion is as relevant as ever. The very real threat of the election of the first British National Party MEP this summer should be a wake-up call to the political establishment. In the current economic crisis, integration is as important as recapitalisation.
And we need to begin at the very start of the process. Put simply, citizenship ceremonies don’t build stronger communities. Of course it’s important to foster a strong sense of British identity among new migrants. But that can’t be achieved through a few pledges and a chorus of “God Save the Queen”. Genuine integration is about more than symbols and rituals. It requires new citizens to build strong and lasting roots in the communities which will become their home.
It is this insight that has led the Canadian government to a radical overhaul of its approach to citizenship. Working closely with a range of groups and individuals, ministers in Canada have decided to scrap traditional citizenship ceremonies and replace them with a new kind of event that focuses on rooting new citizens in their local communities.
Organising committees, led by volunteers, take responsibility for planning and hosting a number of events in their specific area. They are made up of local people who feel they have something to contribute to the integration of new citizens. They may include community leaders, teachers from local schools or volunteers from local charities. By building links between new arrivals and current residents, the Canadian government hopes that sustainable relationships will be built, while local events will mark the beginning of an ongoing process.
We could learn a great deal from the Canadian model. How transformative could it be if, instead of pledging oaths and waving flags, new citizens could find out about how to volunteer in their local community or become a member of their local church, synagogue or mosque? How much could be gained if, instead of singing the national anthem, new citizens could ask questions about the schools in their area or find out about available health services?
A whole range of organisations could be involved, from the Scouts to the Samaritans, from the residents’ association to the local amateur dramatics society. New citizens could meet staff from their relevant primary care trust and officers from the Safer Neighbourhoods team. They could talk face to face with the head teacher of their local school and arrange childcare provision with the manager of the local Sure Start centre.
It is through these relationships that cohesive communities are built. To foster a strong British identity, new migrants don’t need to recite grand pledges or know all the verses of the national anthem. They need the opportunity to build lasting relationships with the people and organisations at the heart of their local communities. A British version of the Canadian model could help them do that. To be relevant, ceremonies need to be ingrained in the community, not based on pomp and pageantry.
Parmjit Dhanda is Labour MP for Gloucester
