The five principles in the handbook
The official handbook sets out the fundamental principles of British life. It lists them as:
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
- participation in community life
Government guidance for schools groups the same ideas as four “fundamental British values”: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. For the test, learn the handbook's wording, which adds participation in community life.
Treat the principles as related ideas rather than five separate facts. Knowing how each one works makes it easier to tell the options in a question apart.
Responsibilities and freedoms
The handbook pairs the principles with responsibilities. It says that if you want to be a permanent resident or citizen of the UK, you should:
- respect and obey the law
- respect the rights of others, including their right to their own opinions
- treat others with fairness
- look after yourself and your family
- look after the area in which you live and the environment
In return, it says, the UK offers:
- freedom of belief and religion
- freedom of speech
- freedom from unfair discrimination
- a right to a fair trial
- a right to join in the election of a government
The two lists are easy to mix up, because both are about living together. A useful test is to ask whether something is expected of you (a responsibility) or protected for you (a freedom).
What each principle looks like in practice
| Principle | What it means | An everyday example |
|---|---|---|
| Democracy | People choose their representatives in free elections and can hold them to account | Voting, or writing to your MP about a local issue |
| The rule of law | Everyone must follow the law, including people who hold power | Settling a dispute through the courts rather than by force |
| Individual liberty | People can hold their own beliefs and express opinions within the law | Speaking up for a view that others disagree with |
| Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs | Respecting people's right to their faith or belief, or to none | Neighbours of different religions treating each other with respect |
| Participation in community life | Taking part in the life of the place where you live | Volunteering, or helping at a local school or charity |
Democracy and the rule of law are a useful pair to compare: one is about choosing who makes decisions, the other about requiring them to act within the law. The two support each other but describe different things.
Liberty and respect
Individual liberty includes room for people to hold beliefs and express opinions within the law. Respecting another person's freedom does not mean agreeing with every opinion they express. Imagine two neighbours with different religions, or with no religion. The revision question is about respecting their freedom, not deciding which belief anyone should share.
The citizenship oath and pledge
If you become a British citizen, you make an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the monarch at a citizenship ceremony, and a pledge. In the pledge, new citizens promise to give their loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms, to uphold its democratic values, and to observe its laws faithfully and fulfil their duties and obligations as a British citizen. The pledge puts the same principles into a promise.
Turn definitions into examples
Make two columns in your notes: principle and everyday example. Put voting or contacting an elected representative beside democracy. Put resolving a dispute through lawful processes beside the rule of law. Then cover the principle column and name the idea from the example. Check the wording against the official handbook, as that is what the test uses.
Check what the question is asking
Questions about values often ask for the best description of an idea. Watch for options that confuse a freedom with an exemption from the law, or a voluntary activity with a legal duty everyone has. Read the whole sentence before choosing. This guide explains study concepts and is not advice about the legal outcome of any particular situation.
Common questions
What are the British values for the Life in the UK test?
The handbook lists the fundamental principles of British life as democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life.
Are the responsibilities the same as the principles?
No. The principles describe how the UK works. The responsibilities are what the handbook says residents and citizens should do, such as respecting and obeying the law and treating others with fairness. The handbook also lists the freedoms the UK offers in return.
Does respecting someone's freedom mean agreeing with them?
No. Individual liberty and tolerance mean respecting people's right to their beliefs and opinions within the law, not sharing them.
Go straight to the source
Keep these official sources handy as you revise.
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