New immigrants should swear a statement of allegiance to show "primary loyalty" to Britain, a report into this summer's race riots in England recommended yesterday.
Widening the debate on citizenship beyond the controversial comments by the Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, earlier this week that immigrants should learn English and do more to adopt "norms" of British life, the Cantle report proposed a declaration of allegiance based on a version used in Canada.
The report's author, Mr Ted Cantle, former chief executive of Nottingham City Council, said he did not envisage a formal signing of an oath. It should apply to new immigrants and be a declaration "everybody should sign up to".
It would promote a clearer understanding of everyone's rights and responsibilities in combating racism and contain a pledge that use of the English language should be "more rigorously pursued".
The riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford between April and July were the worst civil disturbances in Britain in 15 years and millions of pounds worth of damage was caused during clashes between white and Asian youths.
Among its 67 recommendations the Cantle report said segregation between white and ethnic communities must end. Tensions between the white and Asian communities in the northern English towns found their expression in violence because of segregation, alienation and poor community leadership. The communities lived "parallel lives" in which they were ignorant and fearful of each other. If racial harmony was to develop, the report said, there was an urgent need to address the "depth of polarisation" between the communities that had been reinforced by local leaders and government policies and exploited by far-right groups.
Responding to the Cantle report, Mr Blunkett called for a "wide public debate" about the meaning of citizenship and community.
Returning to the theme of immigrants learning to speak English, Mr Blunkett challenged his critics by insisting such skills enabled people to participate fully in society: "This is not 'linguistic colonialism', as my critics allege, it is about opportunity and inclusion."
The Home Office Minister, Mr John Denham, said there was no commitment to a formal oath, but the government did want to encourage debate around the issue of citizenship. However, Mr Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said asking only one part of the community to swear an oath of allegiance would be racially "divisive".