Don’t be squeamish in promoting British values, Cameron says

David Cameron set out plans yesterday to teach all school pupils about the Magna Carta, which was signed almost 800 years ago. Teachers were told by Education Secretary Michael Gove in the wake of the controversy over Islamist influence on some Birmingham schools they must in future “actively promote British values”.

Mr Cameron claimed they included “a belief in freedom, tolerance of others, accepting personal and social responsibility, respecting and upholding the rule of law”. He said they were “as British as the Union Flag, as football, as fish and chips” and it was “not an option” for anyone living in this country not to live by them.

With concerns over more young Britons joining radical jihadists fighting in Syria and 
Iraq, he claimed too much latitude had been allowed to opponents of democracy, equality and tolerance.

He added: “In recent years we have been in danger of sending out a worrying message: that if you don’t want to believe in democracy, that’s fine; that if equality isn’t your bag, don’t worry about it; that if you’re completely intolerant of others, we will still tolerate you.

“This has not just led to division, it has also allowed extremism – of both the violent and non-violent kind – to flourish. We need to be far more muscular in promoting British values and the institutions that uphold them.”

Mr Cameron said it was “a matter of pride and patriotism” to promote British values and history and urged people to stop being “squeamish” about doing so.

Celebrations are planned next year to mark 800 years since King John signed the Magna Carta which established for the first time the monarch was subject to the law. Mr Cameron said its principles “paved the way for the democracy, the equality, the respect and the laws that make Britain, Britain”, and claimed the anniversary was an opportunity to ensure “every child” learns about the Magna Carta.

Meanwhile it was revealed yesterday, the head of Ofsted has agreed to meet a group of parents from some of the 21 schools caught up in the inquiry into extremism in Birmingham.