In recent months, the definition of British values has been in jeopardy. Nationally and internationally, discussions of political violence and social unrest have challenged and tested what it means to be British. According to the Department of Education, our fundamental values include: ‘the rule of law’, ‘individual liberty’, and ‘mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs’. Yet when reading this, what sprang to mind was an overwhelming torrent of events which appear to be the antithesis of this. These values can no longer be seen in the Britain of today.

After the helplessness of this realisation subsided, I was left wondering – what do we have left? What do we owe one another? I believe the foundation for reclaiming these values lies in maintaining open-mindedness.

“To be open-minded is encouraged and instilled by our supervision system”

But what does this look like? It is essential to accept and recognise that there is no singular British experience. There is strength in difference. Without space to share, to discuss, to hear each other out, to feel as though we can take up space, we have nothing. An often unacknowledged value, this is the core of democracy itself. Yet it is apparently, and painfully, slipping away from us. The recent far-right ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally, for instance, is a sickening example of what can happen when open-mindedness is forgotten – often leading to bigotry. Even more worryingly, this is part of a growing global trend of intolerance.

Yet, as a student at Cambridge, I feel equipped to remain open and willing to alternative views. To be open-minded is encouraged and instilled by our supervision system, perhaps without us realising it. The diversity and receptivity cultivated within a small group setting provide a space to share and listen. We all learn and benefit, even when critiquing each other’s thoughts. A willingness to listen is the bare minimum of which we owe one another. It is the embryo of change and the beginning of connection; it underlines the fabric of our democracy. The opportunity to be listened to is the opportunity for mutual respect. And to accept that we can all learn something from one another is necessary for equality.

“It is essential to accept and recognise that there is no singular British experience”

The value of open-mindedness is increasingly rare in the current political climate. But through weekly supervisions, the singularity of my own perspective has become clear to me. Everyone can learn from supervision system, which can and should be translated outside of the Oxbridge bubble and into wider society. Creating environments where diversity of experience and knowledge can be shared leads to solutions for the betterment of everybody.

Theoretically, this is the framework for the democracy we live in. But it is currently under global threat. In combating this, I like to remember and lean upon the fact that I can be the change that I would like to see. I may not be able to control the many events I see on the news, but I can control my mindset and my actions towards others. And this has been made apparent to me by the supervision system.

This is where open-mindedness as a value comes into play, and why it is so important. I truly believe we owe each other the courtesy of having an open mind. Whether this is through open and receptive communication, or realising difference as the foundation of solidarity, we must re-centre open-mindedness as a core value. In a climate where British values are continually under fire, neglected both nationally and internationally, we have to look inwards. This is the first step for any larger change. We cannot only act politically, but socially, too. They are one and the same – a fact I believe we need to collectively realise. And hopefully, in doing so, we can adapt and improve upon the currently forgotten British values.