The Attorney General commended the work of Young Citizens in a speech on the rule of law earlier this week.
Speaking at The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law at Gray’s Inn, Lord Hermer KC affirmed the importance of citizenship education in schools for promoting the rule of law.
The Matrix Chambers barrister stressed the rule of law as a fundamental value for both citizens and governments, calling on Parliament to prioritise “law not politics” and ultimately rebuild the UK’s international rule of law leadership.
The speech comes amid a rise in populist attacks on democratic institutions globally and the previous Government repeatedly overruling international law.
“Education has a crucial role to play”, he said. “We must take these messages to our schools and wider communities. I commend the work of civil society groups and charities such as Young Citizens…and the The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, who work with schools to promote a better understanding of the law and its importance in society.
“I believe it is right to think about whether even more can be done to strengthen the role of citizenship education as a means of promoting a better understanding of our constitution and, particularly, the importance of the rule of law.”
Ashley Hodges, Chief Executive at Young Citizens, said: “Young Citizens welcomes the Attorney General’s speech and support his calls for citizens and institutions to respect the rule of law and uphold human rights. We look forward to working with both the Attorney General’s Office and the Government in their work to promote these values through robust citizenship education in schools, especially from an early age. Social cohesion, opportunity through equality and a thriving democracy are at risk without strong citizenship education being prioritised for all.”
Read the full speech here and find out more about our legal education work.
Photo credit: Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street