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Currently, foreign nationals applying for a British passport swear an oath of allegiance, and make a separate pledge of commitment to the UK.

The oath sworn by foreign nationals is: “I (name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to law.”

The pledge, said alongside the oath, says: “I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.”

In a separate proposal contained within the report, Lord Goldsmith also called for a new British national day to be established by 2012, adding that it could be a new public holiday.

He suggested launching the event alongside the London 2012 Olympics or what will be the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in the same year.

The former Attorney General added that the event could also be the focus for a special Honours List "which focuses exclusively on the achievements of ordinary citizens rather than on those of senior figures in public life".

He added: "In terms of a British national day, what may be beneficial is a new public holiday to celebrate the bond of shared citizenship."

The study also called for a major overhaul of "archaic" treason legislation.

Although capital punishment for murder was abolished in 1965, treason remained technically a hanging offence until only 10 years ago. It is still a crime to "levy war" against the Queen or "stir" a foreign invasion of her kingdom. In theory at least, it is also treason to "violate" - sleep with - the wife of either the sovereign or heir to the throne.

Mr Brown commissioned Lord Goldsmith to lead the review when he stepped down from the Government last summer.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: “The Prime Minister very much welcomes Lord Goldsmith’s review of citizenship. It has a number of interesting proposals in it and no doubt there will be a debate about them.

“He thinks this is a good issue to have a debate about. He has said we need to do more to entrench the notion of Britishness in British society.

“Of course people will have different views on different proposals but what Lord Goldsmith has set out today is a wide range of proposals which will inform the debate going forward."

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