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After the publication of Lord Goldsmith's report, citizenship seems to be the word on everyone's lips and it's certainly an issue that I think should demand our attention. It's easy to be sceptical about some of the suggestions and the usual cynics have been out in force criticising the ideas, but let's not lose sight of the bigger issue. Citizenship ceremonies for all school children and a new national day to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee are just some of the ideas put forward in the much maligned report. But is it really such a bad idea to take a day out every year to come together as a nation and celebrate what makes us British? Citizenship is necessarily a key part of achieving a cohesive and integrated society and it seems only right that the Government is trying to take steps to tackle the issue. Taken in isolation each of the ideas in the report may seem like a gimmick, but surely we should salute the idea behind them. After all, some of our longest standing traditions, like May Day or Mothering Sunday, may well have been sneered at when they first began, but have now become an established part of our heritage. It seems to me that now's the time for us to address these issues and take positive steps to encourage people to show greater commitment and loyalty to Britain. Not all the ideas put on the table by Lord Goldsmith will be implemented, but for those that are, surely we need to get behind them. The real challenge for local government is to drive forward the citizenship agenda and take a leading role in encouraging people to feel a stronger sense of belonging and play an active role in their communities. Darra Singh is chief executive of Ealing LBC

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WHITEHALL

Plugged In: Britain deserves a loyal following

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