British values are a set of values that the government believes are important for citizens in modern and diverse Great Britain to learn. These values are seen as fundamental to British society and promote cohesion and integration. The five fundamental British values are:
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Democracy: A culture built upon freedom and equality, where everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities. This value promotes joint decision making, leadership and accountability, the right to protest and petition, and receiving and giving feedback.
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Rule of Law: The need for rules to make a happy, safe, and secure environment to live and work. This value promotes legislation, agreed ways of working, policies and procedures, how the law protects you and others, and codes of conduct.
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Respect and Tolerance: Understanding that we all don’t share the same beliefs and values. This value promotes embracing diversity, the importance of religion, traditions, cultural heritage, and preferences, tackling discrimination, and respecting the values, ideas, and beliefs of others while not imposing our own onto them.
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Individual Liberty: Protection of your rights and the rights of others around you. This value promotes equality and human rights, personal development, respect and dignity, rights, choice, consent, and individuality, and values and principles.
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Mutual Respect: Understanding that we all don’t share the same beliefs and values. This value promotes respecting those values, ideas, and beliefs of others while not imposing our own onto them.
These values are seen as underpinning what it is to be a citizen in modern and diverse Great Britain, and they allow us to create environments free from discrimination, intolerance, and hate. They help us to challenge prejudice and stereotyping, whilst strengthening relationships within the community.
