Sunday 23 April 2017

I am not celebrating St George's Day, Even if its a Bank Holiday .

Listening to the BBC news this morning  I thought there's a mistake here surely?
Because they  claim
A Labour government would seek to create four new UK-wide bank holidays,
The holidays would be on each nation's patron saint day - St David's Day on 1 March, St Patrick's Day on 17 March, St George's Day on 23 April and St Andrew's Day on 30 November.
Mr Corbyn believes the move will "celebrate the national cultures of our proud nations".
The impression here that we will be celebrating the four patrons saints with a Bank Holiday throughput the UK.
Under the policy, the devolved administrations would have the final say on whether to approve the extra bank holidays.
The BBC points out that Creating bank holidays is a devolved power in Scotland.
Whereas England has no devolved administration so it will be up to Westminster and under the English votes for English laws rule.
Can we really expect Wales to celebrate ST Andrews Day, Scotland St George day and England St David's day,
Mind you many of us join in the Craic on St Paddy's day as they do throughout the world.
So it seems to me that what is intended is four separate Bank Holidays as each part has a unique day off.
Otherwise we will be having a Bank Holiday on March 1st and tehn on March 2nd
Labour says the UK has fewer bank holidays than other G20 countries.
Normally, England and Wales have eight bank holidays a year, Scotland nine, and Northern Ireland 10.
Labour says the average for G20 countries is 12. 
So have the BBC got this wrong?
Normally, England and Wales have eight bank holidays a year, Scotland nine, and Northern Ireland 10.
Labour says the average for G20 countries is 12. 
Mr Corbyn will say in a speech on Sunday:

"The four nations that make up our great country have rarely been more divided due to the damaging and divisive policies of this Conservative government.
"But where Theresa May divides, Labour will unite our four nations.
"A Labour government will make St George's Day - England's national day and Shakespeare's birthday - a public holiday, along with St David's Day, St Andrew's Day and St Patrick's Day.
"These holidays will be a chance for workers to spend time with their families, in their communities and with their friends.
"But they will also be a chance to celebrate the national cultures of our proud nations."
Certainly you can interpretate this has being us having the holidays on a UK wide basis, and maybe it is a part of Mr Corbyn Unionist thinking that which may be less of the Tories Empire 2.0 which some Brexiters seem to be hoping for and more of we are all together don't spoil it attitude and the bafflement of my English friends who can't understand why I don't automatically support their side when they qualify for the World Cup.

Lets face expecting us to  celebrating St George's Day  is an insult  and unless Labour may it clearer will be met with derision.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

A more sensible policy would be for St Davids Day to become a bank holiday in Wales and St Georges Day to become a Bank Holiday in England. St Andrews & Patricks Days are already bank holidays in their respective nations.
The campaign to make St Davids Day a bank holiday in Wales has been around for decades, and my fear is that what Corbyn is proposing will harm the campaign not help it.
Because if he loses the election as I suspect he will & Wales votes against labour in a big way then opponents of a bank holiday will use this to their advantage by claiming 'the Welsh don't want it'!