Equality Oath

The Government appears to have quietly dropped an initiative for an ‘Equality Oath’ that doctors, teachers and other public office holders would be forced to swear to ‘British values’.

The recommendation was made by Dame Louise Casey in her report on integration. Cabinet minister Sajid Javid said he was “drawn” to the idea. The Government’s full response to the Casey review is expected in the spring.

The Communities Secretary believes people should sign up to “tolerating the views of others, even if you disagree with them”. He said: “I’m talking about a belief in equality, democracy and the democratic process.”

The Christian Institute spoke out against the proposal and sections of the press warned that it would deny the right to dissent.

The nebulous concept of equality is extremely concerning as people in public life have many different views on all sorts of issues. Forcing them to sign up to this particular Government’s view of ‘British values’ would be dangerous and illiberal.