Moving the May Bank Holiday

I'd rather it was moved to October.We have too many bank holidays around Easter through to May and not enough between August and Christmas.What's wrong with Trafalgar day?

I also see Russ's point and am wondering why we can't make it Shakespeare's day as it 'twas the day of his death.

Originally Posted by Russ

I have no anti-English feeling but yes this increase it in those who do. I don't equate patriotic English attitudes to being racist but elitist-English attitudes can be and regarding St George's Day as being a 'National Holiday' certainly stinks of that. By all means be proud of and celebrate your nation's patron saint but be aware of the other UK nations who do not celebrate the day.

Ahem ... post 9.

---------- Post added at 09:44 ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy J

What's wrong with Trafalgar day?

1. It's a proposal for the whole of the UK but would require separate support in Scotland, where the Scottish Nationalists are running the Government. So it won't happen.

2. It's a proposal to celebrate a 19th century military victory over two European countries that are now our allies. Trafalgar was not a fight for freedom over tyrrany in anything like the way WW2 was (and even VE day doesn't get a bank holiday). There is no way it justifies a holiday to celebrate it, more than 200 years after the fact.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Chris

Ahem ... post 9. [COLOR=Silver]

Think you may be mistaken - while I appreciate the inefficiency of BBC hacks, some minister was internviewed on Capital this morning saying "we believe England needs this".

That's because everyone in London still thinks Capital is a local radio station for London - which, to be fair, it was until very recently. I'm quite sure the minister in question thought he was addressing an English audience.

Notwithstanding anything the minister may have said on the radio, the policy consultation does make clear that legislation for a St George's Day in England would be accompanied by legislation for St David's Day in Wales.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

and lets not forget st skywalkers day for the jedi .

Yeah on "May the 4th" (say that out load)

---------- Post added at 10:32 ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris

Personally I think the more significant development here is the fact that they have dropped the 'double summer time' proposals from the policy paper.

I really didn't fancy the thought of it not being full daylight until almost 10am here in midwinter.

There are people in the north pole area that have no sun for around 4 months at a time (OK they don't have the traffic we do.)

People will adjust.

[Gary L]

It is hoped an extra four million people will visit Britain over the next four years, spending an additional £2bn and creating 50,000 jobs.

It's alright them coming over for a visit. it's just hoping they go back afterwards.

Calm down, dear - they are talking about tourists, not your bêtes noires......

[chris9991]

I think if the Bank Holiday is moved to October then it should fall in the half term week so that children don't miss out on vital teaching time

but in reality I'd rather have an extra day statutory leave, so that I could pick the day off I wanted

[Russ]

Originally Posted by chris9991

I think if the Bank Holiday is moved to October then it should fall in the half term week so that children don't miss out on vital teaching time

Agreed but that'll only mean the teachers will moan about missing out on a bank holiday.

[MovedGoalPosts]

I suspect that May Day is seen by many in the tourism industries as the real start of the season. Easter is just too early for temperatures to be reliable to get people thinking of outdoors. So removing that holiday, and making it later in the year is just shifting the season back and forth a bit. No real gain.

But from a bank holiday perspective why have Easter, may Day and the end of May holidays in such short succession. A date later in the year would spread things out.

Oh and to the unions, business leaders and such like who all say moving the holiday would be disruptive, I doubt it would be a sudden occurence and there would be a couple of years notice, whcih would give far more planning time than the holiday suddenly announced for the Royal Wedding, that is undoubtedly distruptive when so many will now be trying to skive that whole week.

"skive" - such an emotive term....

Some of us have booked the three days between the two long weekends off as annual leave, so are off work for eleven days.

Originally Posted by Russ

I have no anti-English feeling but yes this increase it in those who do. I don't equate patriotic English attitudes to being racist but elitist-English attitudes can be and regarding St George's Day as being a 'National Holiday' certainly stinks of that. By all means be proud of and celebrate your nation's patron saint but be aware of the other UK nations who do not celebrate the day.

I am English but George is not a saint of mine. 1 I am not Catholic and 2 I do not believe in Dragons

[soup dragon]

what!!!!

Originally Posted by ooogemaflop

I am English but George is not a saint of mine. 1 I am not Catholic and 2 I do not believe in Dragons

1) Strange - there are lots of CofE schools called "St George"
2) Of course you do - you've been married, and had a mother-in-law...

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Hugh

"skive" - such an emotive term....

Some of us have booked the three days between the two long weekends off as annual leave, so are off work for eleven days.

yes and one of us was called a conniving old git when he booked it but what can i say the leave rota was empty some one had to do it