What are "British values" and why do they matter ?

Answer 1

Britains dont have any values, any that we did have, have been eroded away by the thousands of immigrants that the Government let in and now dont know how many are here.

Answer 2

Good question!

According to the British Government - they're:

democracy
freedom of speech
fairness and
responsibility

This is what is going to be taught in schools. BBC Breakfast also had a report this morning on what school kids thought it was to be British - which boiled down to being born here...!

So take your pick!

In terms of why they matter - surely it should be more about that you have values? The values that the British Government want to teach kids aren't particularly British - although they may hark back to the 'good old days' - they're just basic values that most people would sign up to, whatever race, religion, gender, etc.

Answer 3

British values are the traditional values which are supposed to define our society

Values such as:

Loving your family

Respect your elders

Being Courteous and Polite - giving up your seat for women and elderly, holding doors open etc

Tolerance

Fair Play

Being Anti-Fascist

Stiff Upper Lip/ be strong through the bad times. Don't make a drama out of everything (like the Yanks do!)

Being friendly

Sense of community - neighbourliness. Making sure your elderly neighbours are looked after and suchlike.

Standing up/support for the underdog (Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards anyone?)

Good sportsmanship



They don't have anything to do with colour, religion, race or having tea at 4 o'clock.

Sadly a lot of these values have become eroded over the years, mainly due to the greedy materialistic culture that we live in, the breakup of small communties - unemployment forcing people to move away from the areas they were born and a horrible "me me me" attitude (which some think we have adopted from America), plus lapses in moral values which mean its "OK" to go out get trashed, shag anything that moves, start fights outside nightclubs etc.

And also having people like Jade Goody on TV. Although in a way she still represents some British values - she's a working class underdog who has worked herself up from nowhere and is a good mum to her kids. Sadly she also represents the horrible chav culture thats taking over at the moment.

I haven't given up on British values, many young people stil have them - my BF who is 24 does - and I think some families do make an effort to teach them to their kids. Sadly many don't bother which is why they have become so eroded.

Answer 4

The values held by British people after they adopted the French values. They don't matter.

Answer 5

A better question would be, "What WERE British values?"

British values were built on both Christ and Adam Smith. They involved, duty to God, duty to country, and hard work in a market economy.

Now, the British have abandoned the Church, are ashamed of their country, and have fallen victim to the stagnation of socialism.

Answer 6

British values are the feeling of being patriotic and being proud of where you come from.... Britain!!!! We've got a rich history, some of it good and some of it bad, but just like in any country we have the RIGHT to feel proud of where we come from. They matter because if nobody cared, our environment would be filthy, our streets dangerous and our people inbreds!

That's just my opinion anyway...

Answer 7

You don't want to know. They are so old fashioned that even people in their 60s can't remember them. Like being polite, saying please and thank you, respecting one's elders, giving up your seat to infirm or elderly people on public transport. Tolerance, being non-racial, going to church on Sundays, but not worrying about other people having other religions. Fighting against fascism (now there's a laugh). A great sense of 'fair play' . Sympathy with the under-dog. Not being an informer.
Should I go on?
Yes, they did matter. They mattered very much, but they don't seem to exist any more.

Answer 8

They tend to be Christian, of a parlementarian democratic kind. You can learn them by watching Masterpiece Theatre, or reading Book of Common Prayer.

The pubs are actually a very good place to see British values at work. If you go to church only once a week, you get a distorted idea of the Britons.

Answer 9

British values are a myth. I know i'll get a lot of thumbs down for that but hey, take a look around. This country is scuzzy!

Answer 10

- tea at 3:00 5 pm
-not hugging and kissing on public
- good manners at dinner
- not going on yahoo answers for more than 3 hours