Fundamental principles

The United Kingdom is a democracy built on a set of fundamental principles that shape how the country is governed and how people live together. Anyone wishing to settle in the UK is expected to understand, respect, and uphold these values.

The fundamental values of British society are:

• Democracy — the people of the UK have the right to choose their government through free and fair elections
• The rule of law — everyone in the UK is subject to the law; no one is above it, including the government
• Individual liberty — people in the UK have the freedom to live their lives as they choose, provided they respect the law and the rights of others
• Mutual respect and tolerance — people of different backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs live alongside one another in the UK and are expected to treat each other with respect

These values underpin everything in British public life — from how Parliament operates to how disputes are resolved in the courts.

Democracy means that the people choose how they are governed. In the UK, this is done through free elections, in which registered voters choose their representatives in Parliament and in local government.

Key features of democracy in the UK:

• The right to vote in elections (for those who are eligible)
• The right to stand for election as a representative
• Free and fair elections overseen by independent bodies
• A free press — the media can report on government and public affairs without censorship
• The right to peaceful protest and to express political opinions freely

Democracy in the UK has evolved over many centuries, from Magna Carta (1215) and the early Parliaments through to the extension of voting rights to all adults in the 20th century.

The rule of law is one of the most important principles in British life. It means that:

• Everyone — including the government, the police, and public officials — must act in accordance with the law
• No one can be punished without a fair trial
• Laws are made by Parliament and applied independently by the courts
• The judiciary (judges) are independent of the government — they cannot be dismissed for making decisions the government dislikes

The rule of law traces its origins to the Magna Carta (1215), which established that even the king must govern according to the law. The Bill of Rights (1689) and subsequent Acts of Parliament have further embedded this principle in British constitutional life.

Individual liberty means that people are free to live their lives as they choose, provided they respect the law and do not harm others. In the UK, this includes:

• Freedom of expression — the right to hold and express opinions, including political opinions, without fear
• Freedom of religion — the right to practise any religion, or none, without persecution
• Freedom of the press — journalists and media organisations may publish information and opinions freely
• Freedom of association — people may form and join groups, clubs, trade unions, and political parties

These freedoms are protected by law. Interfering with the lawful freedoms of others is a criminal offence.

The United Kingdom is home to people of many different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and beliefs. Mutual respect and tolerance means:

• Treating all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, ethnicity, religion, or beliefs
• Respecting the right of others to hold different views and practise different faiths
• Rejecting discrimination and prejudice in all forms

British law protects people from discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Up next: The development of British democracy — trace the history of how Britain moved from absolute monarchy to a modern parliamentary democracy.