children to swear allegiance to the queen? Not mine. No way.

[hecate]

I am 100% totally completely utterly vehemently opposed to this idea, to the point that I would physically prevent my children being forced to 'swear allegiance to the queen'. It's ridiculous. I am anti-monarchy and am appalled by the mere idea that my children might be made to put their hand on their heart and swear that they'll love and protect and serve or whatever, some woman who, along with too many members of her family, gets far too much taxpayers money for no good reason...... like she is better than them, or they owe her something? Screw that. We owe the royal family nothing, imo. No loyalty and certainly no forelock tugging and boot licking.

Agree. Screw that. Then I am not British and don't get all this "help - we don't feel British".

I'm with you Hecate but I wouldn't fret just yet, it seems highly speculative - a mere suggestion from an old grandee - and, even if the plan were put in place, really can't see many of the teachers I know being too thrilled about it.

Let's campaign for a new national anthem instead. A Mumsnet poll - anyone for Land of Hope and Glory? Vindaloo? Personally, I'd favour commissioning something from Billy Bragg or just replacing current GSQ with Sex Pistols' version.

I wouldnt mind the extra bank holiday day being suggested.

Oh yes, that one's fine.

I agree, hecate - no way would I permit my children to do this. But it will never happen in a million years anyway! Can you imagine trying to implement such a thing in Northern Ireland?

wouldn't bother me, then again i was a girl guide so used to pledging allegiance to the queen

What utter bollocks. Am with you in being anti-monarchy hecate.

Really can't see it happening though.

I'm not bothered by the monarchy either way to be honest, but I'd prefer my kids not to swear allegiance to them

However, the idea of an extra day's holiday is rather attractive, from someone who only gets 15 days a year from work.

I would let my children choose. But at 16 (or now for that matter) I would not swear allegence to the crown, being a repuvican and all that

No way is this ever going to happen. I don't mind the Queen, think she does a good job etc. but I am basically anti-monarchy and think their days must be numbered.
I would also like to see a new national anthem as the current one just makes me cringe every time I hear it.

Yet another barmy idea from Lord Goldsmith.

I personally think Flo'er O Scotland is a very good national Anthem

This idea has very creepy overtones for me, as it echoes the East German Jugendweihe ceremonies. The main aim of these was indoctrination, directly in competition with the church confirmation ceremonies. If you didn't go through with it, there would be all sorts of awkward political consequences.

Really bad idea imo.

It's ridiculous, it won't come to pass. I'm assuming the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies would block it anyway - I really cannot see one non-English school doing it (and very few English schools!).

A complete waste of time, more likely to stir up bad feeling than create a sense of national identity.

Love the idea of replacing the anthem with the Sex Pistols version. Can you imagine the Olympics? Quality.

Wouldn't it be more of a loyalty to your country thing - similar to what the Americans do?

I worry about "loyalty" to your country. What makes your country any better or more deserving of your loyalty than any other?

Can they not just cross their fingers behind their back?

We had a ceremony when we left school. It involved a lot of beer. We hated school by the time we left and would not have taken kindly to any enforced promises.

I'm not a monarchist, but tbh it wouldn't bother me.

Isn't it a bit like singing along with the hymns at a wedding if you're atheist?

I think that british people should be taught how to make a decent victoria sponge cake (regional variations permitted) and that on our national cake day we should all cook and eat one, or to be even more british to refuse to join in and go out of our way not to eat any sort of cake on that particular day.

lol pigleto

I will let my dds swear allegiance to Coronation Street or Ant and Dec or Michael Parkinson or anyone else quintessentially British. But not the blobbing Queen and her tosspot German lot.

Yes pigleto! And on that day the London Eye could be done up as a giant sponge cake.