Rugby MP, Mark Pawsey, has lent his formal support to Nadhim Zahawi MP to introduce a Private Members Bill creating a bank holiday in England for St George and in Wales for St David.
Mark said: “I believe this bill is important is it will promote national integration. Our hope is that we can replace the one off Royal wedding bank holiday in 2011 with permanent holidays in England and Wales for their respective Saint’s days.”
Mark added: “These holidays would enable the people of England and Wales to celebrate the many things that make our nation great; our history, our culture and our many achievements. I also support Mr Zahawi’s belief that by making St George’s and St David’s day an official bank holiday celebrated by the nation we can go a long way to reclaiming our symbols of patriotism from the fringe extreme right who have attempted to hijack them in the recent years.”
A recent YouGov poll has found strong support for the proposal, with 68% of people believing that it would be appropriate for the UK to have at least 9 bank holidays a year. Additionally of the various potential calendar occasions for a new bank holiday St George’s day was the most popular with 22% of people supporting it with Remembrance day second with 21%.
Mark concluded: “The evidence is well in favour of an extra Bank holiday for this important day and I am fully supportive of Mr Zahawi’s efforts in order that we can celebrate the many, many achievements of this great country.”